Tâpwê and the Magic Hat

 

Buffy Sainte-Marie's new children's book Tâpwê and the Magic Hat draws on the wisdom of Indigenous elders

She's a legendary Cree singer, songwriter and activist who has won numerous awards over her six-decade career. And if that wasn't enough, Buffy-Sainte Marie is also the author of three books for children. Her latest picture book, Tâpwê and the Magic Hat, illustrated by Michelle Alynn Clement, tells the story of a little boy longing for a summer adventure. After he receives a mysterious magic hat from his kokhom (grandmother), he gets more than he bargained for — and learns some lessons along the way. Sainte-Marie spoke with The Next Chapter's Shelagh Rogers about the long path from first envisioning the story that eventually became Tâpwê and the Magic Hat to publishing the book in both English and Cree. Listen to the new CBC Podcast, Buffy, celebrating the life and legacy of Buffy Sainte-Marie READ MORE    Buffy Sainte-Marie at 80   As an artist and an activist, Buffy Sainte-Marie has always been ahead of her time – whether it comes to messages about the Vietnam War, residential schools or the environment. Now, at 80-years-old, it seems the world may have finally caught up to her. From new albums and tours to being embraced by a new generation of Indigenous artists, the Saskatchewan First Nation-born musician has been experiencing something of a renaissance in recent years. Piya Chattopadhyay spoke with Sainte-Marie on the weekend marking her 80th birthday, about what has made her the inspirational figure she is today.