Oshki Ogimaag student-created book, “How to Snare Waabooz” wins Minnesota Library Association Award
Press Release from Minnesota Children’s Press:
After months of drawing, dictating, editing and revising, combining text and images, 22 students at the Oshki Ogimaag Community School in grades K-5 teamed up with Minnesota Children’s Press of Grand Marais to publish their first book in spring 2026: “How to Snare Waabooz” and presented it as a gratitude gift in a parent appreciation ceremony at school. In fall 2026, they received the letter every author longs to read:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to share the exciting news that “How to Snare Waabooz” has been selected as the winner of the 2026 Minnesota Author Project Contest in the Communities Create category! Congratulations to you and the students of the Oshki Ogimaag Community School on this incredible achievement!” wrote Nash Steele, Senior Operations Coordinator Ebooks & Community Engagement for Lyrasis and an event manager.
The awards were announced today at the Association’s annual conference, a virtual event at which two Oshki Ogimaag students joined teachers Cherie James and Jeana Isaacs to participate in a panel of authors. James, the school’s Ojibwe language and culture specialist said the win is especially gratifying for affirming the children’s role as both creators of a prized focus of literacy – a published book – and as culture bearers telling a story of community survival and food sovereignty.
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North Shore Morning host CJ Heithoff spoke with John Morin and Anne Brataas about the book and award in this interview.
