Ovila Fontaine is an Innu Elder from the community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, where he has lived and worked all his life. From an early age he was interested in hunting and life in the forest. When he became a father, he embarked on a quest for his own history and culture. Today Ovila is an accomplished presenter, skilled at explaining the fundamentals of Innu culture and philosophy to the uninitiated. He is often called upon to act as a cultural ambassador for multiple organizations.

Charlotte Parent is an illustrator based in Montreal. In 2017, she obtained her bachelor's degree in fine arts from Concordia University, where she focused on drawing. Passionate about picture books, she now creates illustrations in colored pencil or gouache for children's literature. Charlotte likes to depict the magic of the ordinary in her gentle and playful illustrations. The First Christmas Tree is her second picture book.

Ann Marie Boulanger is a certified translator and owner of Traduction Proteus Inc. When she's not translating commercial texts, she's an accomplished translator of adult and children's literature. Her translation of The Woman in Valencia, by Annie Perreault, was named a World Literature Today Notable Translation of 2021. She's also a part-time lecturer at McGill University and co-founder of LION Translation Academy, which offers business, tech and language training workshops for translators.

"The Great Manitou appears in vibrant fuchsia as various woodland creatures, standing out against the cool winter palette. A Christmas-themed look into Indigenous culture tradition that encourages further exploration."

-- "School Library Journal (SLJ)"

"Ovila Fontaine's spirited prose shines through in this English translation. The richly coloured illustrations by Charlotte Parent are perfectly paired with the text, and kids will enjoy spotting Manitou, who appears in various forms. Bridging traditions and transcending seasons, the last page inevitably prompts a request that's hard to resist: 'Will you read it again, please?'"

-- "Montreal Review of Books (MRB)"

"An enchanting book for the holiday season, The First Christmas Tree is a different kind of origin story...With its quietly dazzling artwork, it's a picture book to be appreciated beyond the Christmas season."

-- "CanLit for Little Canadians"

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Pub date: 2025-10-14

Length: 56 pages