The First Christmas Tree: An Innu Tale

by Ovila Fontaine, Ann Marie Boulanger (translator), Charlotte Parent (illustrator)

The Great Manitou knows that winter is the harshest season for the Innu, and he decides to find a way to make their winters a little brighter. He searches through the trees in the forest to find one who will bring joy, beauty and warmth to all. Could it be the larch, the tree that the Innu use to make sleds, bows or ointments? The birch, malleable and robust? Or the magnificent black spruce? “Do you want to become the Christmas tree?” he asks each one. But one after the other, the trees decline his offer. All except one, the little fir tree, whom the Great Manitou had initially overlooked.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Indigenous, Nature

56 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think, if I'm right, that any mention of pattern in my book reviews has until now been about the visuals. But here I gloried in the pattern of the story – the style of it, the progression of it, all combined to make something timeless, borderless and just plain wondrous. The Great Manitou – which from these pages can be anything from a bear to a squirrel, a bird or hare – is on his travels throughout the land, and seeing the seasonal plainness of the Innu people (who are, in real life, about 30,000 Labradorians in what they call Nitassinan). He decides to ask the best trees around the forest if they will consider being a Christmas tree for the children to decorate and look up to – but one by one they all sniffily, snootily, woodenly (heh heh) give a firm no. I mean, there is the fir tree, that is a bit weepy and seepy over the way there, but the Manitou will ask the bigger, more useful trees first.

Not only is this a great character having a simple but great quest, it works as a Just So kind of fable, which leads to a wonderfully surprising ending – the comeuppance for the trees that turn the Great Manitou down. I mean, I should have guessed, but I was wrapped up in this simple story far too much. From the word go the translation seems beat perfect, and the original French-language production must have deserved the reward(s) it received. I don't know who to credit for the ever-changing nature of the Great Manitou here, but it seems to fit with the nature of the godlike entity to be anything and everything he desires; the pinkness of him adds a surprising touch to the artwork that I didn't generally get to love.

But for me it's the merits of the story, that gave off a kind of deja vu feeling – in the right way. This felt like something I'd read before because people have told this for centuries, and shared it, and loved it, and used it to explain things to young audiences. There is definitely a clear joy in reading something with such classical formulation – pattern, again – and finding it's new and original and from an author we can actually credit. So much credit to the author here, and hopefully great success for a volume that deserves audiences way beyond Labrador. I absolutely loved the spirit this gave off – you never know, perhaps a pink godlike spirit touched me...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the cold of one of the most northerly parts of the world, the legend of the Great Manitou lives in the hearts of the Innu people. Long ago, the Great Manitou observed a need for the Innu people to have a special tree to decorate to bring light to their dark winter days. So, the Great Manitou traveled across the landscape, interacting with one tree after another that already had a strong meaning for the Innu people. But, one after the next, the trees refused the Great Manitou’s request, until one final tree remained. With great enthusiasm, the fir tree accepted the Great Manitou’s offer, ultimately bringing joy to the Innu people from the very first Christmas forward. This fable-style picture book recounts a well-known folk tale of the Innu people of Northeastern Canada. Utilizing brief phrases and a predictable storytelling structure, the book recounts the folklore behind the first Christmas in Innu culture, blending two origin stories in a respectful and holistic manner. Accompanying the words are nature-centric illustrations that feature textures and colors reminiscent of the natural world in a wintery landscape. These images effectively communicate the idea behind the Great Manitou as both a physical entity and a more spiritual creature. At the end, a visual glossary of Innu words is included to help connect readers to Innu culture from an additional perspective. Translated to English from its original French, this story is an inclusive addition to Christmas storybook collections from around the world.

[auré · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations magnifiques. Une belle façon d’introduire des éléments de la culture innue en y mêlant quelques éléments typiques de Noël. Instructif tout en étant une histoire le fun et belle. J’aime !!!

[amélie lafleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magnifiques illustrations en douceur. J'adore le contraste des animaux en rose. Un conte innu qui nous apprend sur les arbres et surtout sur le roi des forêts.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les lillustrations. Le grand esprit , personnage principal, qui change de forme animal mais qu'on reconnait parce que toujours de meme couleur, rose. Brillant.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story about the different trees and their native uses.

[Chantal HK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un magnifique trésor que ce conte de noël innu, plein de beauté, de sagesse et de nature.
Des images colorées dans un angle nocturne que nous ne sommes pas habitués à voir (la nuit dure 6 mois en hiver dans le grand nord!). Des animaux et arbres multiples du grand nord que l'on découvre sous un jour nouveau, par leur utilité pour les humains. Un génial imagier bilingue français innu de 2 doubles pages à la fin complète cet ouvrage sublime avec brio.
La dimension spirituelle est si bien illustrée, c'est frappant de grandeur, de puissance et d'universalité. Le grand manitou étant en toute chose, le choix visuel et éditorial pour le représenter est tout simplement parfait.
Un album unique, dans un style peu exploité dans notre époque (la légende) et qui laisse un sentiment de bien être profond après la lecture.