Caldecott Medal Winner

We Are Water Protectors

by Michaela Goade

Summary

A young Ojibwe girl calls on her community to defend the water and the earth from a black snake, a symbol of the pipelines and pollution that threaten the land. Michaela Goade fills the pages with flowing, vivid watercolor illustrations rooted in Indigenous imagery and a deep connection to nature. Inspired by Native protest movements, the book is a rallying cry for environmental stewardship and respect for the natural world.

Historical Context & Significance

Michaela Goade became the first Native American illustrator to win the Caldecott Medal, for a book written by Carole Lindstrom inspired by Indigenous water protest movements.