Dancing with the Cranes

Chi is waiting for the return of the cranes, an event she shared with her grandmother every year. She misses her grandmother, but her pregnant mother explains that dying is part of the cycle of life, and uses the cranes to aid in the explanation. “If no cranes died, then there would be way too many cranes, and finally there would be no room for anything else but cranes”. She explains that it is the same for people. “It is the saddest thing when someone dies, it is also the happiest thing when a new person is added”. Chi comes to understand that her Temma will always be part of her and she begins to look forward to the arrival of the baby.

A poet and novelist, Armstrong has received the Mungo Martin Award and the Buffett Award for Aboriginal Leadership as well as an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas University.

Dancing with the Cranes is a story of death, sadness, birth, anticipation and nature. Chi is waiting for the return of the cranes, an event she shared with her grandmother every year. She misses her grandmother, but her pregnant mother explains that dying is part of the cycle of life, and uses the cranes to aid in the explanation. “If no cranes died, then there would be way too many cranes, and finally there would be no room for anything else but cranes”. She explains that it is the same for people. “It is the saddest thing when someone dies, it is also the happiest thing when a new person is added”. Chi comes to understand that her Temma will always be part of her and she begins to look forward to the arrival of the baby.

Armstrong has received leadership awards. She is a poet and novelist.

Chi is sad since the death of her Temma (grandmother). When her mother announces the impending arrival of a new baby Chi responds, “Send it away!” Chi goes to the lake to watch for the return of the cranes, a favourite activity she shared with her Temma. The cranes come back each year. Why can’t her grandmother? Momma gently points out that although the cranes return each year, it is never the same group of cranes. Some die, baby cranes are born. That is the circle of life. When the cranes arrive, Chi’s mother sings Temma’s crane song. Chi realizes that her Temma will always live within her heart.

The author and illustrator are both of Aboriginal heritage. Armstrong is the author of the best-selling novel Slash. Hall’s work is included in the National Gallery collection.