Michaela Goade Becomes the First Indigenous Caldecott Medal Winner

The 2021 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book is awarded to Michaela Goade for “We Are Water Protectors, written by Carole Lindstrom and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings.

Michaela Goade’s vivid, swirling watercolors capture the sacredness of water and amplify Carole Lindstrom’s passionate call to action and celebration of Indigenous ancestry and community.

Rich symbolism and repeating floral patterns appear alongside distinctive colors and atmospheric light to tenderly frame the defiant young protagonist standing up against the real-life horrors of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“Michaela Goade’s semi-translucent color palette beautifully bathes every page with powerful illustrations,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Annisha Jeffries.

Michaela Goade is an enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and is of the Kiks.ádi Clan (Raven/Frog).   She received the American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book in 2018 for “Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy” and was selected by Jury as a featured artist at The Original Art 2020, an Exhibition of Children’s Book Illustrators at The Society of Illustrators in New York. Goade lives in Sheet’ká (Sitka), Alaska.