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The Elders Are Watching
As Native elders have advised from time immemorial, this is a gentle plea to respect the natural environment.
When the award-winning poet David Bouchard first saw the artwork of First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers, he was struck by Vickers’ reverence for nature, the vibrancy of his colors, and his perceptive understanding of Canada's rugged West Coast. He saw in Vickers' images the perfect complement to his own lyrical, thoughtful poetry. They collaborated on the original edition of The Elders Are Watching, which has delighted more than 100,000 readers in four languages. Bouchard says, "Both Roy and I share similar dreams for our children. Through this book, we hope that others will come to share these dreams and together work toward correcting some of the mistakes of the past."
In this new edition, their vision is as fresh and relevant today as it was when the book was first published. A plea to respect the natural treasures of our environment and a message of concern from aboriginal leaders of the past to the people of the new millennium, The Elder Are Watching has both a timelessness and an urgency that must be heard.
When the award-winning poet David Bouchard first saw the artwork of First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers, he was struck by Vickers’ reverence for nature, the vibrancy of his colors, and his perceptive understanding of Canada's rugged West Coast. He saw in Vickers' images the perfect complement to his own lyrical, thoughtful poetry. They collaborated on the original edition of The Elders Are Watching, which has delighted more than 100,000 readers in four languages. Bouchard says, "Both Roy and I share similar dreams for our children. Through this book, we hope that others will come to share these dreams and together work toward correcting some of the mistakes of the past."
In this new edition, their vision is as fresh and relevant today as it was when the book was first published. A plea to respect the natural treasures of our environment and a message of concern from aboriginal leaders of the past to the people of the new millennium, The Elder Are Watching has both a timelessness and an urgency that must be heard.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
David Bouchard
79 books38 followersCanadian Métis author and literacy advocate David Bouchard has produced more than fifty books for readers of all ages, including two guides on reading for parents and educators.
An erstwhile teacher and school principal, he is particularly concerned with Aboriginal-related issues and is a sought-after speaker for conference keynotes and school presentations and on topics of reading, literacy and aboriginal well-being.
David Bouchard's books have won numerous awards, including a Special Mention for Non-Fiction in the 2010 Bologna Ragazzi Awards for The Drum Calls Softly, a Gold Medal in the 2008 Moonbeam Award for I am Raven, the 2004 Governor General's Award for The Song Within My Heart, the 1999 Red Cedar Award for The Great Race and the 1997 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Voices from the Wild. An Aboriginal Carol was included in the 2008 White Ravens Catalogue.
In April 2009, Bouchard was named as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as an author of children’s books and an advocate who has championed the cause of reading and writing, and who has shared his pride as a member of the Métis community through his stories."
David lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife Vicki and their daughter Victoria.
-taken from the author's website
An erstwhile teacher and school principal, he is particularly concerned with Aboriginal-related issues and is a sought-after speaker for conference keynotes and school presentations and on topics of reading, literacy and aboriginal well-being.
David Bouchard's books have won numerous awards, including a Special Mention for Non-Fiction in the 2010 Bologna Ragazzi Awards for The Drum Calls Softly, a Gold Medal in the 2008 Moonbeam Award for I am Raven, the 2004 Governor General's Award for The Song Within My Heart, the 1999 Red Cedar Award for The Great Race and the 1997 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Voices from the Wild. An Aboriginal Carol was included in the 2008 White Ravens Catalogue.
In April 2009, Bouchard was named as a Member of the Order of Canada "for his contributions as an author of children’s books and an advocate who has championed the cause of reading and writing, and who has shared his pride as a member of the Métis community through his stories."
David lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with his wife Vicki and their daughter Victoria.
-taken from the author's website
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 13, 2014
Beautiful illustrations. Did an Aboriginal art lesson based on book. Had students create similar works of art using black construction paper and oil pastels.
November 7, 2011
this book needs to be read. but the people who need to read it are to busy denying global warming, the round earth and other such things.
June 7, 2019
I read this to see if it belongs in the library's local history room. The art is generically Northwest Coast Native and the author and illustrator don't have local ties, but I put it in the archive room for a while and we'll see if it gets used.
The artwork is beautiful, no question. It didn't all seem to match: some pieces had different color themes or design feels that made them feel like they didn't fit, but they are all lovely.
The rest of the book has some problems. First, the text isn't great. There are a crap-ton of filler words-- "just," "so," "that"-- which help get the lines into the desired rhythm but water them down at the same time. Most of the phrases are clunky and use a weird word order to try to get a rhyme.
The layout also doesn't make sense to me: a large picture on the whole of the right page, and four lines of text on the far side, left-aligned on the left page. Because the pages are so big, the reader can't take in the text and pictures at the same time but has to look at one, turn the head, and look at the other. It doesn't make for a unified reading experience.
The artwork is beautiful, no question. It didn't all seem to match: some pieces had different color themes or design feels that made them feel like they didn't fit, but they are all lovely.
The rest of the book has some problems. First, the text isn't great. There are a crap-ton of filler words-- "just," "so," "that"-- which help get the lines into the desired rhythm but water them down at the same time. Most of the phrases are clunky and use a weird word order to try to get a rhyme.
The layout also doesn't make sense to me: a large picture on the whole of the right page, and four lines of text on the far side, left-aligned on the left page. Because the pages are so big, the reader can't take in the text and pictures at the same time but has to look at one, turn the head, and look at the other. It doesn't make for a unified reading experience.
January 20, 2021
I'll start with a few things that I loved: The images were gorgeous, I would love to buy this book for that reason alone. The writing was also well-done. It felt true to Bouchard's style.
What I struggled with was decoding the meanings. I thought the message was delivered too vague, however I believe it was done intentionally to give readers more freedom of interpretation. I was planning on using this in an elementary classroom because the pictures are so beautiful, but because of the ambiguous delivery of the message, this book might be more suited for Middle Years or even High School.
What I struggled with was decoding the meanings. I thought the message was delivered too vague, however I believe it was done intentionally to give readers more freedom of interpretation. I was planning on using this in an elementary classroom because the pictures are so beautiful, but because of the ambiguous delivery of the message, this book might be more suited for Middle Years or even High School.
September 30, 2008
The artwork in this book beautifully portray the Native American perspective of the Northwest. Favorite lines:
"Of all the things that you've done so well,
The things they are growing to love,
It's the sight of your home, the town that you've built.
They can see it from far up above.
Like the sun when it shines, like the full moon at night,
Like a hundred totems tall,
It has brightened their sky and that's partially why
They've sent me to you with their call."
"Of all the things that you've done so well,
The things they are growing to love,
It's the sight of your home, the town that you've built.
They can see it from far up above.
Like the sun when it shines, like the full moon at night,
Like a hundred totems tall,
It has brightened their sky and that's partially why
They've sent me to you with their call."
October 31, 2018
Why 1/5 ? Roy Henry Vickers is a legend. David Bouchard is award winning and prolific. Surely I’m being unfair. Well, in Oct 2018 Bouchard’s metis heritage was called into question and until it’s cleared up I considered this cultural appropriation. It breaks my heart. We needed a literary legend like him and not another Joseph Boyden disaster. Sorry.
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September 14, 201310
March 5, 2026
The Elders Are Watching pairs David Bouchard's lyrical poetry with Roy Henry Vickers's vibrant, evocative artwork in a plea to respect the natural environment a message rooted in Indigenous wisdom and addressed directly to readers of all ages. Originally published years ago and now reissued, the book has lost none of its urgency.
Bouchard's words carry the weight of elders speaking across generations: a gentle but firm reminder that the earth is watching, that our actions have consequences, that the mistakes of the past must be corrected. The poetry is accessible without being simplistic, carrying emotional weight through restraint rather than excess.
Vickers's illustrations informed by his First Nations heritage and his deep connection to Canada's West Coast provide the perfect visual counterpart. His colors are vivid, his forms both grounded and spiritual. Together, text and image create a meditation on responsibility, respect, and the relationship between people and place.
This new edition ensures that a vital message continues to reach new readers. For families and classrooms seeking to engage with Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship, this book is essential.
Bouchard's words carry the weight of elders speaking across generations: a gentle but firm reminder that the earth is watching, that our actions have consequences, that the mistakes of the past must be corrected. The poetry is accessible without being simplistic, carrying emotional weight through restraint rather than excess.
Vickers's illustrations informed by his First Nations heritage and his deep connection to Canada's West Coast provide the perfect visual counterpart. His colors are vivid, his forms both grounded and spiritual. Together, text and image create a meditation on responsibility, respect, and the relationship between people and place.
This new edition ensures that a vital message continues to reach new readers. For families and classrooms seeking to engage with Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship, this book is essential.
March 10, 2022
This powerful picture book is a call for social change, Indigenous reconciliation, and environmental action. Award-winning Metis poet David Bouchard’s free-verse poems compliment the bold paintings of First Nations artist Henry Roy Vickers. Vickers’ work portrays the landscape and people of coastal British Columbia, and in this collaboration, Bouchard’s poems are a call for stewardship and action.
They told me to tell you the time has come.
They want you to know how they feel.
So listen carefully, look toward the sun.
The Elders are watching.
(Bourchard, p. 14)
Vickers states, “We continue to fight a battle to turn a tide of destruction that has been rising for many years and threatens to drown the family unit, our social structure, and our environment.” He calls for understanding and truth, and change for the better, that “[t]hese actions will help us turn the tide, letting it wash over the land, healing those wrongs we had a part in creating.” (Vickers, 2003, ‘Thoughts’)
For the classroom or educator, themes include: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CALL TO ACTION, RECONCILIATION, INDIGENOUS ISSUES
They told me to tell you the time has come.
They want you to know how they feel.
So listen carefully, look toward the sun.
The Elders are watching.
(Bourchard, p. 14)
Vickers states, “We continue to fight a battle to turn a tide of destruction that has been rising for many years and threatens to drown the family unit, our social structure, and our environment.” He calls for understanding and truth, and change for the better, that “[t]hese actions will help us turn the tide, letting it wash over the land, healing those wrongs we had a part in creating.” (Vickers, 2003, ‘Thoughts’)
For the classroom or educator, themes include: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CALL TO ACTION, RECONCILIATION, INDIGENOUS ISSUES
April 25, 2018
beautiful illustrations, thoughtful reminder of our responsibility to nature. great for children and adults
February 10, 2019
Beautiful illustrations, sad but uplifting message at the end
June 28, 2019
Love the message, love the illustrations, love, love, love.
October 6, 2019
A simple, yet powerful message paired with phenomenal artwork.
November 18, 2020
Every educator should read this beautiful story to their students. The illustrations are amazing also.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews