Unit 3-Introductory Lesson: Albert Dumont Poetry [5]
[1] Albert Dumont’s “Sitting By the Rapids”
Where is the Bird 🐦
❓Questions
1. What effect does the repetition of the question
“Where is the…” at the start of the first three verses
have on the reader? What is the poet trying to convey
in repeating the question?
2.Literary devices are prevalent in this poem. Choose
2 examples of imagery and explain the importance of
the use of sensory detail. How does imagery help to
convey the poet’s experience?
3.What is meant by the following:
a. My friend, the lake you search for/Is any of
your territory....
b. The trial leading to the circle/Is the only trial
necessary…
4. What does the poem mean to you? How does your
knowledge of First Nation, Metis or Inuit spirituality
help you to understand this poem?
💬My Response
1. The first three verses in the poem all begin with “Where
is the…” which creates an effect on the reader and
emphasizes what the poet is trying to convey. Through
repetition, Albert Dumont creates the effect of urgency,
attentiveness, and emphasis on the reader, making them
think deeply about a certain topic. In this case, through
the question “Where is the…” Dumont expresses his
search for lost identity and spirituality while explaining his
deep connection to the land. He conveys the message of
finding oneself and understanding who he is as he
questions where he can discover himself and his
purpose. The First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities
have deep connections with the land, and Albert Dumont
expresses his search for finding this relationship, identity,
and belonging through his questions. In the first line,
“Where is the lake,” he connects this part of his identity
to his sense of virtuousness, saying “My heart filled with
righteousness.” He then questions “Where is the trail,”
connecting this to finding the circle that provides a sense
of bravery and establishes honesty, saying “Where my
spirit / Can replenish itself with courage and truth.” Lastly,
he asks “Where is the bird,” as he relates this to finding
his ambition in life, stating, “Where I can discover again /
Purpose and a reinvigorated sense of humanity.”
Through all these questions, Dumont relates them to
traits and features in himself, as he provides a deeper
understanding of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
relationships to land, the circle, and animals. Repetition
emphasizes the idea of lost identity and trying to find
oneself, which creates the effect of tension,
understanding, and possibly sympathy as the poet
attempts to learn more of his identity and purpose.
2. One example of imagery can be seen through the lines
“Where is the trail / In the thick woods / Leading to the
circle.” This example of imagery connects with sensory
details that appeal to the reader’s sight and possibly
touch. The use of imagery that engages one’s senses is
important as they allow the reader to feel more intrigued
and understand the point and experience the poet is
trying to convey. Through this imagery, the reader is able
to better understand Dumont’s connection with the forest,
which further allows the reader to understand First
Nations, Metis, and Inuit relations with the land. Dumont
tries to explain his experience of finding peace, unity, and
identity through nature, and with the use of words like
 “trail,” and “thick woods,” he illustrates an image in the
reader's mind of how he feels and sees the land, allowing
the reader to better understand his experience of finding
purpose through nature. Another example of imagery is
evident through the lines “Where is the bird / Which
would lift me upon its back / So I can fly with it.” This
imagery appeals to the reader’s sight, and possibly touch
as well, further engaging the reader in the poet’s
experiences. The reader is able to deeply connect with
Dumont and understand more of his connection to nature
and animals, which explores the topic of First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit connection to the land. The reader is
able to feel and see what the poet is feeling and he
conveys his experience of being close to nature and
animals. Through these lines he uses imagery to
describe his connection; he sees the bird as a friend,
someone that will help him discover his purpose and
meaning. The bird will stand with Dumont, carry him to
search for his identity, and allow him to be free. This
imagery emphasizes the importance of sensory details
as it allows the reader to connect and better understand
the experiences Albert Dumont conveys through his
words. Lastly, another example of imagery can be seen
in the first verse, “Where is the lake / I can wade into /
And emerge / My heart filled with righteousness.” This
also appeals to the reader’s senses, their sight, and
possibly the touch of wading through water and coming
out of it, connecting the reader to the poet’s history. The
imagery conveys his experiences as Dumont relates his
connection with the land to the feeling of righteousness.
He explains how he enters the water and leaves with a
sense of goodness, which allows the reader to
understand the relationships, identities, and beliefs of
First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities in connection
to the land.

3. a) The lines, “My friend, the lake you search for / Is any
of your territory” can demonstrate a part of Dumont’s
message of the poem. As he explains his experience of
lost identity and his path of self-discovery, he highlights
to the reader that the land we are on is not theirs. As he
shares his deep connections to the land and how it helps
him find himself, he explains the relationship of
Indigenous communities to nature and the importance it
holds. Dumont says “the lake you search for / Is any of
your territory,” attempting to convey the message that the
land you are discovering, the land you are on, isn’t your
property and it isn’t an aspect of your identity. Dumont
may more specifically be relating it to the colonization of
Canada, sending a message to the people that invaded
this area as he says this land does not belong to them.
As he explains his deep connections to the land, he
demonstrates his knowledge and highlights how others
 do not have the same deep relations as the Indigenous
community does; the land they discover is not in their
realm of identity and understanding, it is “any of your
territory.”
b) The lines, “The trail leading to the circle / Is the only
trail necessary” further explain Dumont’s meaning behind
the poem and connection to identity and purpose. In a
different line, Dumont explains the circle as a place
“Where my spirit / Can replenish itself with courage and
truth.” He connects the circle with bravery and identity
within himself, as he explains the spiritual connection
with the circle. By saying “The trail leading to the circle /
Is the only trail necessary,” Dumont explains parts of his
identity, beliefs, and purpose in life. He means that the
path leading to this feeling of replenishment of courage
and truth is the only path that is needed in his life. In this
sense, he explains how despite having his land and
connections with nature taken away, the trail leading to
the circle of interconnectivity which includes unity,
courage, bravery, and the truth is the main thing
necessary for him to find his purpose and identity. This
further explains the strong connection First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit communities have with nature and the
resilience they carry with them.

4. This poem allows me to better understand the journey of

finding identity and purpose in First Nations, Metis, and
Inuit communities, as well as their connection with
spirituality. Through Albert Dumont’s loss of identity and
journey of finding it, I can have a deeper understanding
of his connection to nature as he explains where he
found certain traits from the land, such as courage, truth,
righteousness, and purpose. My knowledge of First
Nations, Metis, and Inuit spirituality allows me to develop
a stronger understanding of this poem as I think about
their connections with the land, animals, and identity,
allowing me to understand the experiences Albert
Dumont is trying to convey. As he questions where the
lake, trail, and bird is which will lead him to purpose and
identity, he shows his learning that the trail to the circle is
the only thing necessary in his life. I know that especially
in First Nations culture, their spirituality is tied to the
circle, as they believe this is the symbol of
interconnectedness. They believe that life continues on
in a circle, that we die and come back to this life as
another being. This explains Dumont’s connection with
the bird, as he describes his feelings of equality when
speaking of the animal. When he says the trail leading to
the circle is the only thing necessary, he describes how
the circle of life and the interconnectedness of things is
an important aspect of his identity. All of this allows me to
have a deeper understanding of First Nations, Metis, and
Inuit connections with land, animals, and each other, and

[2] Our Young People 👦
1.How does the poem “our young people” voice the
strength of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people?
2.What is meant by the use of the simile “our young
people...are like the dawning of a long anticipated
spring?”
3.How does the poet’s voice reveal determination for
the future?
demonstrates the journey of finding identity through the
poem.
1. The poem “our young people” voices the strength of First
Nations, Metis, and Inuit people through the resilience,
determination, and power demonstrated through the
words. In this piece of work, Albert Dumont highlights
that children who engage deeply in Indigenous
knowledge are the beginning of something beautiful and
longed for; they’re powerful, strong, and unstoppable.
From these words, the strength and spirit of the First
Nations, Metis, and Inuit are shown, as it demonstrates
that they’re not only strong-willed, but their children and
young are the undefeated changemakers of the future.
Albert Dumont conveys the message that with the
wisdom of Indigenous culture, the children of today will
represent and carry the determination of First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit communities, demonstrating the
importance of educating and trusting youth, and
highlighting the strength that is passed on from
Indigenous generations.
2. The use of the simile “our young people...are like the
dawning of a long anticipated spring” shows meaning in
what the youth of today represent. Through the use of
the words “long anticipated spring,” Dumont allows the
reader to visualize and recall the positive feelings
associated with a long-awaited spring. The excitement,
joy, and desired change spring brings to one’s life is used
to symbolize what the children of today will bring forth.
Through Indigenous knowledge, young people will bring
warmth, positive change that has been longed for in the
past. With the use of the word “dawning” specifically,
Dumont expresses the idea that the children of today are
like the beginning of this new, long-awaited, positive,
desired change of season. They will be the start of this
change, and this change will continue. Dumont also adds
on “They will not be stopped,” which further relates to the
simile. Similar to how a season is unstoppable, Dumont
highlights that the change our youth will bring after being
educated with Indigenous knowledge will remain
undefeated. Through this simile, the poet allows the
reader to associate positive feelings that come with a
long-awaited season with the change young Indigenous
youth will bring in the future. The reader creates images
in their minds, and this engages them with the message,
allowing for a better understanding of the importance of
empowering youth.
3. The poet’s voice reveals determination for the future as
he uses specific words to emphasize the beginning of
change and ends the poem with a sense of assurance.

[3] 👤Man of the Blackberry Moon🌜
1.The poet uses many examples of personification in
nature to capture the importance of its identity. What
are two examples of personification and how do they
contribute to the poet’s experience?
2.What does the poet mean in the line for balance in
all things?
3.The symbol of the circle is prevalent in many of the
poet’s poems.
a. What do you feel it symbolizes for Indigenous
people?
b. What connections to your own life can you
make to the symbol of the circle?
4.What do you feel are the teachings of the blackberry
moon? How does nature serve as a guide in your life?
Firstly, through the use of the word “dawning,” Dumont
shows that young people educated with Indigenous
wisdom are the beginning of a long-awaited change that
will bring positivity and warmth to the world. He says that
they are not just the change, but the start of change,
showing that the generation of young people will bring
forth a revolution that will continue, which demonstrates
the poet’s determination for the future. In the end, the
use of the words “They will not be stopped” further
implies that the change that started is compelling and
inescapable. The future generations will create the
beginning of a new era full of positivity, education, and
wisdom of Indigenous culture, which will be unstoppable,
further showing Albert Dumont’s determination for the
future as he reveals his confidence in the inevitable
positive change that is expected to come.
1. One example of personification in this poem is evident in
the lines, “In the song of the rapids / And in the stirring of
leaves,” where the leaves are the non-human aspect and
the stirring of them is the human attribute. The rapids can
also be a non-human aspect, with the song they sing
being the human attribute. Through this example, the
personification reflects the poet’s experience, showing
his description of nature. These words create imagery in
the reader’s minds, as well, allowing them to deeply
connect with the poem and visualize the poet’s
experiences. He explains how the Grandfather had heard
the voices of the medicine beings through the song of the
rapids and stirring of the leaves, revealing more about
Indigenous connection to nature and spirituality. It
demonstrates their interconnectedness with the
environment and the spirit world, and Dumont explains
how the spirits communicate through nature with this
personification. Another example of personification in this
poem can be seen through the lines, “The teachings of
the blackberry moon / Entered his soul,” where the
teachings are considered to be the non-human aspect,
and its entering into the soul is the human attribute. The
poet conveys his experience and adds to the imagery of
the poem by using this literary device, as he paints the
picture in the reader’s mind of how the teachings of the
blackberry moon effortlessly walk into the soul of a
human and fill it with ancestral knowledge and wisdom.
The poet may describe the teachings as entering into
one’s soul as he may also have felt as if the lessons on
spirituality and identity had entered his body.
2. In the poem one of the verses includes the lines, “And he
realized / His duty as a protector / And the need / For
balance in all things.” Through these lines, the poet
 explains how an unknown individual who he refers to as
“Grandfather” came to be the guardian of sacred
knowledge and understood the need for “balance in all
things.” Through this line, the poet reflects part of his
identity and beliefs with his relationship to the land. The
Indigenous community believes in giving back to the
environment and providing for the land, signifying their
strong connection with nature. This belief of giving back
and showing gratitude relates to the need of keeping
balance in all things. He states that balance is important
in keeping stability in life, that if we take from the
environment, we need to return, allowing for fairness.
The poet stresses the importance of maintaining this
balance, as it aligns with their identities and beliefs and
failing to maintain equality between us and the world can
result in disastrous events.

3. a) Albert Dumont uses the symbol of the circle in several

other poems, proving its significance and importance in
Indigenous culture and spirituality. I think the circle
symbolizes interconnectedness, unity, and continuity for
the Indigenous people. Just as a circle is never-ending
and forever ongoing, the circle of life is believed to be the
same for First Nations cultures. They believe that after
death, you come back to this world in another form,
whether that’s through an animal, a person, or a plant.
The circle symbolizes this ongoing, forever, way of life
while demonstrating the interconnectedness of things.
The Indigenous people also believe that we are all
connected, which is the reason for their deep connection
to the land and animals. The circle symbolizes
connection between everything, which represents the
beliefs of Indigenous communities and their identity,
relations, and sovereignty.

b) The circle is a symbol that I can make connections to

in my personal life, as it is representative of some of my
beliefs and connects with my identity. I believe in the
interconnectedness of all things, and feel that every
organism on this Earth is of equal value and status. The
circle symbolizes this connectedness and equality, which
is something I resonate with. The circle also represents
the ongoing continuity of life. I feel that life is a continuing
circle, and although I don’t know what may happen after
death, I know that life continues and new things come to
life when another thing is gone. My connections with my
life, identity, and beliefs can be in relation to the symbol
of the circle, as I believe in the interconnectedness of life
and the continuity in the circle of life.

4. I feel the teachings of the blackberry moon are about

spirituality and lessons on the circle and nature involved
with First Nation culture. The poem begins with the

[4] Spring
1.The poem spring uses many active verbs to convey
the meaning of the energy that nature has in one’s life.
Choose three active verbs and detail the contribution
to the poem.
2.Describe how Dumont establishes a distinctive
voice in his poetry? How does he modify language
and tone skillfully to connect to the audience and
convey purpose?
3.What is meant by the final line of the poem The
spirits of our sacred bundles? What the poet is trying
to convey to his audience?
Grandfather hearing the voices of medicine beings,
which seem to be one aspect of Indigenous spirituality.
The poet describes what the medicine beings are saying
to the Grandfather, “‘Your spirit is strong’ they told him /
‘You will survive.’” This line explains the connection the
First Nations have with the spirit world, they use them as
a guide through life as the spirits provide and support
them. The poet then goes on to explain the effect of
these spiritual teachings, “The teachings of the
blackberry moon / Entered his soul / And his spirit filled
with ancestral wisdom.” He describes how the teachings
of the blackberry moon allowed the Grandfather to gain
more knowledge as he expanded his understanding of
the spiritual and nature-related teachings of the
blackberry moon. The poet goes on to explain this
sacred Grandfather, and highlights the connection with
nature throughout the poem. I resonate with this poem,
as nature also serves a guide in my life. The environment
teaches me more about my responsibility in taking care
of the planet, and is a place of comfort to which I can
connect to. I learn more about the importance of caring
for the land through nature, and find peace and guidance
in the natural world.
🌺
1. One example of an active verb used can be seen in the
lines, “The energies of Mother Earth / Rise, taking their
places in the circle.” The active verb is taking, which is
being done by the energies of Mother Earth. This
provides a sense of realism and human attribution when
speaking of the energies of Earth, which further
demonstrates the strong connection the Indigenous
community has with spirituality. Another example of an
active verb is evident in the line, “Spring spirits vibrate in
the hills and valleys,” where the active verb is vibrate,
which is being done by the spring spirits. This provides
more realism, demonstrating a stronger connection to the
poet’s spirituality with spring spirits. Through the use of
active verbs, the poet also creates a visual in the
reader’s mind, making them more engaged with the
poem. Lastly, another example of an active verb is in the
line, “Hope and renewal / Descend like falling rain.” In
this case, the active verb is descend, with hope and
renewal being the topic that is descending. This
contributes to the poem as it provides more vivid
description and detail, and also creates an active voice
for the poet.
2. Dumont establishes a distinctive voice in his poetry as he
modifies language and tone to connect to the audience,
conveying the purpose. He uses similes and metaphors
many times throughout the poem, rather than speaking

[5]
1.The first verse contrasts the second verse:
a. What symbolism does the first verse convey?
b. How does the second verse contrast in the
first?
c. How does the line I am as a leaf-bearing tree
provide a transition. What does the transition
symbolize?
2.What does the poet mean in the line, I am a
leaf-bearing tree? What hope does this metaphor
provide to the audience?
3.This poem is placed at the end of Dumont’s
Anthology. In your opinion, why would it be placed
towards the end of the anthology?
directly, making the poem more engaging and
memorable. The similes and metaphors also aid in
exposing Indigenous culture to the audience as these
literary devices constrain Indigenous concepts such as
“Mother Earth” and “sacred bundles.” His tone also
differs throughout his poem, as he changes from a
descriptive tone, “Spring spirit vibrates in the hills and
valleys / Mixing with the songs of birds / And the melody /
Of fast flowing waters,” and moves on to an enlightening
tone, “It is Spring / a time to awaken our bodies / And to
refresh in the circle / The spirit of our sacred bundles.”
3. At the end of the poem, Albert Dumont states, “It is
Spring / A time to awaken our bodies / And to refresh in
the circle / The spirit of our sacred bundles.” When he
mentions the spirit of our sacred bundles, I think the poet
refers to the spiritual connection they have with their
sacred bundles, which is a collection of sacred items.
From my knowledge, I know that the Indigenous people
renew and feast their sacred bundles in the spring. When
Dumont says that the spring is a time to refresh their
sacred bundles in the circle, the poet conveys the
message of renewing oneself similar to how they renew
their bundles as spring approaches.
🍃Leaf-Bearing Trees🌲
1. a) Through the use of old leaf-bearing trees, the first
verse conveys symbolism of hidden strength and growth
within a weak and weary-looking body. The poet mainly
describes the worn-out state of the trees and how this is
just an illusion as the trees continue to remain strong.
Dumont’s words help the reader visualize the weak state
of the tree but symbolizes the wisdom and power the tree
holds. The first verse conveys the meaningful symbolism
of the hidden wisdom, strength, and stability of the tree,
which the poet relates to himself in the second verse.
b) The second verse contrasts from the first as the poet
begins to speak of not the tree itself, but rather his
connection to the tree and how he has hidden strength
just like it. In the first verse, Dumont says the
leaf-bearing tree may seem weak, but is actually strong,
and in the second verse, he says that he is strong and
grows stronger. The two verses are related as they both
connect and contain similar symbolism of hidden
strength behind the mask of weakness, but differ in terms
of the subject being discussed. He begins by explaining
the apparent weakness in trees, and changes the topic to
the hidden strength in himself, showing the contrast
between the two verses.
c) The line “I am as a leaf-bearing tree” provides a
transition as the poet shifts the focus from a physical tree
and its symbolization to himself and his relation to the
 tree. Dumont starts the poem by explaining the illusion of
weakness associated with an old, leaf-bearing tree, and
describes the hidden power and strength the tree
symbolizes. He then uses this transitional line of “I am as
a leaf-bearing tree,” saying that he also may appear to
be in a state of weakness, but is strong and continues to
grow stronger. The use of this line provides a transition
that symbolizes the connection the poet has to a
leaf-bearing tree, and the hidden strength they both hold.
He uses this transition to relate the focus of the tree with
himself, symbolizing that he is like a leaf-bearing tree,
looking weak, but having strength and growth.

2. Note: The line “I am as a leaf-bearing tree” may be a

simile rather than a metaphor since the sentence
contains the word “as.” The transitional line “I am as a
leaf-bearing tree,” provides meaning through the use of a
literary device, allowing the reader to better understand
the poet’s connection and purpose of the poem. In the
first verse, he describes the leaf-bearing tree as
something that seems in a state of growing weakness
but explains that this is an illusion. He says, “The trees
remain as strong / As when the leaves were green and
vibrant,” suggesting the tree hasn’t lost its strength while
aging and perhaps has even gained more wisdom,
power, and prosperity. Through the line “I am as a
leaf-bearing tree,” Dumont means that he is like a
leaf-bearing tree; he may appear to be growing with
weakness, but is gaining strength, knowledge, and
gratitude as he gets older. This line provides the hope of
remaining strong, even when appearing to be weak; the
hope of rising above, gaining knowledge, understanding
one’s identity, achieving more wisdom, and overall
growth as a person. Albert Dumont explains that a
leaf-bearing tree is expected to grow weaker, but
explains that its appearance is only an illusion, providing
hope that as we age, we grow stronger, more
knowledgeable, and gracious. Dumont further
strengthens this hope by relating to his own experiences
in verse two, saying he is like a leaf-bearing tree. He
explains, “My knowledge of the Good Spirit / Stronger
now / Than in my younger years,” meaning that along
with gaining strength, he has achieved more wisdom,
grown more as an individual, connected with his
spirituality, and has developed a deeper sense of identity.
This line means Dumont is similar to the tree as he has
hidden strength, providing the hope of overall growth and
power, even in times of weakness, to the audience.

3. This poem particularly holds great significance in the

growth of Albert Dumont’s life and offers a sense of his
identity and experiences with his culture. I think this
poem is placed towards the end of Dumont’s Anthology
because it communicates an important message about
his life and journey with his culture, and can also be a
valuable message, in general. As he compares himself to
a leaf-bearing tree and explains the hidden strength
behind the apparent weakness of the tree, he highlights
different topics related to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
communities. With the line “I stand strong, my roots, my
bloodline,” Dumont demonstrates strength, resilience,
and power as he explains his resistance with nature,
using the word ‘roots’ in particular. The line, “Rising from
the rocky earth / I catch the wind,” illustrates his
connection with the land. He describes how he is deeply
rooted and rises from the ground, catching the wind. The
topic of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit relationship with
the land can be seen through these lines, as the poet
emphasizes his connection. The next line, “And speak
my word of thanksgiving,” shows the gratitude involved
with Indigenous relationships with the land, further
proving their strong identity with Earth. The Indigenous
community has deep connections with nature around us,
and this line especially proves their thankfulness towards
the environment that’s a part of their culture. Lastly, the
lines, “My knowledge of the Good Spirit / Stronger now /
Than in my younger years,” demonstrates his growth and
strong connection to his culture and identity. By
mentioning one aspect of Indigenous teachings, the
Good Spirit, he further proves his aspiration to learn
more about traditional beliefs. The last two lines of the
poem are especially significant as it not only concludes
the poem gracefully, but the whole Anthology. Dumont
demonstrates his growth of learning more about his
Indigenous identity; he learns more of relationships with
the land, his culture, resilience, and gratitude, which all
demonstrates the topic of strength and self-determination
in First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities. This poem
wraps up many topics involved in this anthology, as
Dumont conveys the message of hidden strength behind
the mask of weakness while relating it to other ideas. I
think this poem would be placed towards the end of the
anthology because this work demonstrates Dumont’s
growth and allows the reader to better understand the
different aspects of identity involved with First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit communities, including
self-determination, connection with land, relationships,
spirituality, gratitude, and strength.
 Reflection Questions about Albert Dumont’s poems:

1. How does the poet use words to convey his voice?

Dumont employs a variety of stylistic tactics and literary techniques throughout his poems to
improve the readability of his writing and the clarity of the message he wants to get across. The
use of similes, which allows for a vivid comparison of two objects and draws the reader into the
subject being described, is one literary device that I feel is particularly powerful. For instance,
Dumont claims that young people who are exposed to Indigenous wisdom "Are like the dawning
/ Of a long anticipated spring" in the poem, Our Young People. The phrase "long anticipated
spring" conveys the joy, excitement, and wanted change that spring brings to one's life,
signifying the good transformation that today's youth will usher in. In addition, he used a
comparison in the poem Leaf-bearing Trees to describe the seeming frailty and underlying
power of leaf-bearing trees and to compare himself to them: "I am as a leaf-bearing tree."
Dumont may shift from the subject of leaf-bearing trees to himself using this literary trick, and it
also helps the reader see Dumont's development and untapped strength. He employs the simile
to compare himself to leaf-bearing trees as he describes how their apparent weakness is an
illusion, sending a clear, descriptive message of hidden strength beneath the façade of
weakness and illustrating his development. In addition, Dumont uses a simile to further illustrate
his point about the optimism that comes with the season when he writes, "Hope and renewal /
Descend like falling rain." The poet shows how these virtues are connected by contrasting them
with characteristics of spring, giving the reader a clearer understanding of the significance of
spring. Dumont uses a simile to illustrate the relationship between hope and rebirth and spring,
showing how they descend from the sky onto Earth and help many people feel refreshed by the
passing of the seasons. The usage of these similes makes the poem more captivating and
interesting, helping the reader to become fully immersed in Dumont's writing and better
comprehend the information he is attempting to get through.

2. What questions would you ask Dumont about his approach to writing poetry?
I would ask him what experiences in his life led him to express his emotions via poetry if I could
talk to him. Why did he pick poetry in particular? How does Dumont create thoughts that are
engaging and put together a beautiful sentence? Does he have any specific objectives in mind
when he writes poetry, or does he just want to express his feelings? Why did you decide to
concentrate on the impact that nature has on people as opposed to the impact that people have
on one another? Do you enjoy writing? How long does it typically take to write a poem? What
did you discover when you wrote your poems? Do you collaborate with others on your writing?
Do you conduct extensive study before creating a poem, or are they solely drawn from personal
experience? I believe that Albert Dumont's poetry has a significant impact on how First Nations,
Metis, and Inuit societies are portrayed, particularly in terms of identity, strength, connection to
nature, and interpersonal interactions. In his poetry about trees that bear leaves, in particular, he
illustrates growth and uses a beautiful technique to disclose his identity.

3. How does Dumont use structure to reflect his spiritual journey?

By expressing the sense of being lost/off-track, unconnected, or in quest of something at the
beginning of the poem, Dumont employs structure to mirror his spiritual journey. However, by
the time his poems are finished, we have a better grasp of identification, learning, and
development, which helps us to comprehend Albert Dumont's experiences as well as the
identities of the Indigenous people. Each poetry guides us on a path of self-discovery and
self-identification while illuminating us with knowledge that ties us to the outside world. Through
the use of a simile, Dumont compares himself to a leaf-bearing tree, “I am as a leaf-bearing
tree,” saying that although these trees seem to be in a state of growing weakness, they’re just
as strong as before. Strength can be found deep within the soul and behind the apparent mask
of weakness, especially as one connects to their environment, spirituality, and identity, gaining
knowledge as time passes. This poem shows significance in topics related to self-determination,
resilience, strength, and connection to the land in Indigenous communities, allowing me to
better