Name: Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman Present How The Birds Got Their Songs
Start: 2024-05-21T19:00:00-05:00
Location: 318 North Central Ave, Duluth, MN, United States, Minnesota 55807

Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman Present How The Birds Got Their Songs

Zenith Bookstore is thrilled to welcome Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman who will present their stunning new children's book How The Birds Got Their Songs.
The Great Spirit challenges all the birds to a contest, and the gift of birdsong is born! This traditional story, told in both English and Ojibwe, explains bird behavior and where humans should go to hear the prettiest of birdsongs.
This treasured story, handed down through author Travis Zimmerman's family, features traditional knowledge from the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Grand Portage descendant Sam Zimmerman's vibrant illustrations showcase his stylized artistry and deep appreciation for feathered creatures. Marcus Ammesmaki's retelling in Ojibwemowin brings the story full circle, encouraging language learners to explore this age-old depiction of our natural world—and inviting all readers to cherish the gift of birdsong.
This event is free and open to the public. Books can be pre-ordered at zenithbookstore.com.
Travis Zimmerman is a proud descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. He has been the site manager at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post for fifteen years and has been involved with dozens of Native American organizations, either as an employee or as a board member, over the last three decades. He is the father of two and has two wonderful grandsons.
Artist and educator Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik is a direct descendant of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe). Drawing on ancestral connections, Zimmerman continues the Anishinaabe tradition of storytelling, embedding the themes of environmental stewardship and conservation of the North Shore in his studio and public art commissions. Zimmerman’s debut book is Following My Spirit Home: A Collection of Paintings and Stories, and his work is held in private collections in the United States and abroad. He lives in Duluth, Minnesota, and regularly explores the natural beauty of Minnesota’s North Shore. View his studio projects and current creations on Instagram @CraneSuperior.