Ga's / The Train

The dual-language edition, in English and Mi'gmaw, of the Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express-nominated title, The Train.

Ashley meets her great-uncle by the old train tracks near their community in Nova Scotia. Ashley sees his sadness, and Uncle tells her of the day years ago when he and the other children from their community were told to board the train before being taken to residential school where their lives were changed forever. They weren't allowed to speak Mi'gmaw and were punished if they did. There was no one to give them love and hugs and comfort. Uncle also tells Ashley how happy she and her sister make him. They are what give him hope. Ashley promises to wait with her uncle by the train tracks, in remembrance of what was lost.

Jodie Callaghan is from the Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation in Gespe’gewa’gi (Gaspé Coast in Eastern Quebec). Her first children’s book, The Train, was published in 2020, and the Mi’gmaw/English version, Ga’s, was published in 2021. Jodie lives in Campbellton, New Brunswick.

Georgia Lesley is a Canadian-born professional artist and illustrator living in British Columbia's Cariboo region. She began illustrating in 2006 and strives to create a sense of depth, emotion, and visual storytelling, to assist and enhance the written word.

Joe Wilmot was born in Listuguj, Quebec. He traveled extensively in the construction trades before he became involved with Mi'gmaq-Mi’kmaq Online Language (MMOL), the talking dictionary. Joe went to the University of Alberta for summer courses from 2007 to 2010, where he learned about the linguistics of native languages of North America. He has continued to work in the Mi’gmaw language since the early days of MMOL, translating/interpretating, while also working in the Listuguj School System.