Even the herons told stories about Rueben’s attempts to imitate their patient one-footed stance in the shallows and the laughs he drew when he attempted to spear minnows. Everyone in the forest had a story about Rueben.

“What’s that? What’s that?” he would squawk suddenly from a branch and the animals got used to stopping whatever they were doing and explaining the nature of their endeavours. His eyes always gleamed and he always listened respectfully. Then he would fly away to his favourite perch high atop a great pine tree. They would see him sitting there hitching his wings and twisting his head while he considered everything they had told him.

“Reminds me of my daddy,” Grampa Raven would say. “He’d fly far and wide just to see a wonder.”

“Aren’t you afraid it could get him in trouble someday?” Rueben’s mother asked.

“Oh, no,” Grampa Raven said. “Wonder is the glue that holds everything together. It keeps you searching, eager for more. Out of wonder comes awe and out of awe comes respect and that’s the most valuable gift of all.”

Illustration: Bridget George.

Richard Wagamese (1955–2017), an Ojibway from the Wabaseemoong First Nation, was one of Canada’s foremost writers. His bestselling novels include Indian Horse, which earned an array of awards. He was also the author of highly praised memoirs and personal reflections, such as Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations and One Story, One Song, winner of the George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature. Wagamese’s work was recognized with a National Aboriginal Achievement Award and the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Matt Cohen Award.

Bridget George is an Anishinaabe author-illustrator and graphic designer. She was raised on the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation and now lives in London, Ontario. George is the author of the 2020 book It’s a Mitig!, an acclaimed introduction to the Ojibway language for young readers. Her previous picture book collaboration with Richard Wagamese was The Animal People Choose a Leader.

l to r: Richard Wagamese (Credit: Yvette Lehmann) and Bridget George (Credit: Bridget George)

Excerpt from The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese. Illustrated by Bridget George. 2025, Douglas & McIntyre. Reprinted with permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

The Inquisitive Raven publishes on Sept. 2.