close
close

Ourladyoftheassumptionparish

Part – Newstatenabenn

    • Best Books for Native American Heritage Month
    patheur

    Best Books for Native American Heritage Month

    Sakege Posted on

    There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are crunchy underfoot, and the Halloween decorations are beginning to give way to bright lights and flying reindeer. But before the winter holidays invade the calendar, we can’t forget Thanksgiving and the month that is often invaded by preparations for what comes next.

    November marks Native American Heritage Month, also known as National American Indian Heritage Month. Since it was first recognized federally in 1990, we have spent the month recognizing the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples to our culture and communities.

    One of those ways is to read books by Native and Indigenous authors that feature characters, stories, and experiences that reflect the incredible diversity of Indigenous communities. Below, we’ve rounded up some old favorites and newcomers to fiction and nonfiction (and all their genres), as well as some children’s books to read with your kids this month or add to your classroom collection.

    ‘Fire Escape’ by Morgan Talty

    “Fire exit.”

    Charles has watched Elizabeth’s life unfold since she was a baby, and now that she’s gone, he has to deal with the secret he’s been carrying all along: she’s his daughter. Following Charles as he struggles to reveal that truth and all the complications that come with it, not to mention his struggles with his home and family, this is a gripping story about legacy and community, heritage and shared values ​​and what we owe each other. to some. other.

    ‘Berries of the Heart’ by Terese Marie Mailhot

    ‘Heart Berries’.

    In this beautiful elegy for the author’s lost parents, Mailhot explores her trauma, a deeply dysfunctional family, and the unreliability of memory as she writes her way toward her version of the truth.

    ‘White Magic’ by Elissa Washuta

    ‘White Magic’.

    To do? twin peakshe Oregon Trail What do video games and Stevie Nicks have in common? In this collection of woven essays, the author traces her legacy of cultural heritage, colonization, and her journey to becoming a witch, including the cultural touchpoints that have shaped her. It is a powerful look at the legacy and where some of the spiritual practices now in vogue find their origins.

    ‘Wandering Stars’ by Tommy Orange

    ‘Wandering stars’.

    This fast-paced exploration of generational trauma begins with Star, a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, who is forced to speak English and practice Christianity by the man who later founded the notoriously cruel Carlisle Indian Industrial School. A generation later, his son Charles is sent to that same school, where the man who abused his father does the same to him. But Charles finds hope in his fellow student Opal Viola, holding on to dreams of a better, freer future.

    ‘The Only Good Indians’ by Stephen Graham Jones

    “The only good Indians.”

    One of the best horror writers working today takes a Jordan Peele-style story of four American Indian men who are plagued by a deadly event in their past that returns to wreak havoc in their present. It’s a chilling tale of revenge, cultural history and tradition that is not for the faint of heart.

    ‘Never Whistle at Night’ edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

    “Never whistle at night.”

    Speaking of fear, this haunting collection of short stories by Native and Indigenous authors has something for every phobia. Ghosts, spirits and various horrors abound in a series of stories that will get under your skin and stay there.

    ‘The Berry Pickers’ by Amanda Peters

    “The Berry Pickers.”

    Tragedy strikes a Mi’kmaq family when their four-year-old daughter, Ruthie, mysteriously disappears from one of the Maine fields where they work as seasonal blueberry pickers. That tragedy deeply impacts the family, especially her brother Joe, who saw her for the last time. Meanwhile, a young woman named Norma, who grew up the only child of wealthy parents, has been plagued by strange dreams that seem “more like memories” in this original and heartbreaking novel.

    ‘The Mighty Red’ by Louise Erdrich

    ‘The Powerful Red’.

    A wedding between terrified North Dakota farmer Gary and former goth Kismet (wannabe homewrecker Hugo notwithstanding) forms the crux of this powerful and deeply relatable story. It’s about the costs of things on a mundane and cosmic scale, about how time moves in planetary and human terms, not to mention the hope, despair, and life we ​​carve out for ourselves in between.

    ‘A Council of Dolls’ by Mona Susan Power

    ‘A doll’s advice’.

    This moving and moving novel with elements of magical realism follows three generations of Native women and their precious toys: Cora, sent to a brutal boarding school with only her doll for comfort; Lillian, who endures unspeakable horrors at the hands of punishing nuns; and Sissy, whose unpredictable anger keeps her on the brink of danger.

    ‘White Horse’ by Erika T. Wurth

    ‘White Horse’.

    Turn up Metallica to 11, crack open a cold one, and put on a beloved band t-shirt to watch this brave, otherworldly novel about the importance of family and what it means to be tormented. It’s creepy, terrifying, and a great introduction to the author’s exploits before the next one arrives in March 2025.

    ‘The Plot Against Native Americans’ by Bill Vaughn

    “The Plot Against the Native Americans.”

    While several of the favorite fictions on this list explore the horrors of Native American boarding schools that abused generations of Native and Indigenous children and decimated their communities, this gripping nonfiction looks at what really happened. In demanding, incisive prose, he details the development, operation, and damaging legacy of these institutions from their first formation in the 19th century to the reparations sought today.

    ‘The Truth According to Ember’ by Danica Nava

    ‘The truth according to Ember’.

    Ember Lee Cardinal hides her Chickasaw identity to get a job, and once there, she even falls for TI native boy Danuwoa Colson. But when they’re caught violating the coworker’s no-dating policy and a colleague starts blackmailing Ember, she has to decide: should she confess and risk losing everything?

    ‘Sweet Grass Braiding’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer

    ‘Sweet grass braid’.

    Botanist, scientist, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer, draws on her deep knowledge of the natural world and the lessons it has to teach us in this essential and beloved book. This 40th anniversary edition features a new introduction by the author that Elizabeth Gilbert calls “a journey that is as mythical as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as intelligent as it is wise.”

    ‘Sisters of the Lost Nation’ by Nick Medina

    ‘Sisters of the Lost Nation’.

    Darkness descends on the Native American reservation where Anna grew up, and her ability to see a nameless entity suddenly takes on even more horrifying meaning. As women begin to disappear, including Anna’s sister, she must confront the forces encroaching on her community in this unforgettable and chilling debut.

    ‘And Then She Fell’ by Alicia Elliott

    This biting and darkly funny take on mental health and motherhood follows Alice, a young Native woman who has just given birth to a beautiful baby girl shortly after losing her own mother. While she’s the only indigenous woman in her posh new neighborhood, her supportive husband is a white academic who studies Mohawk culture, so it’s not like she’s totally alone, right? But when she starts hearing voices and unexplained events marring her days, she can’t tell if she’s simply paranoid or there’s something more sinister afoot.

    ‘Woman of Light’ by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

    After her brother is driven out of town by a violent white mob, Luz has to figure out how to survive alone in 1930s Denver. But when she begins to have visions of her ancestors and their lives in the nearby Lost Territory, she decides she can’t let her fight, perseverance, and powerful stories die with her. An epic, cinematic force that spans generations.

    ‘Dreaming Buffalo’ by Violet Duncan

    ‘Dreamer buffalo’.

    in this beautiful National Book Award FinalistA young woman named Summer begins to have vivid dreams about the reservation where her mother’s family lives, her grandfather’s heartbreaking story, and how learning about a painful past can hold hope for a better future. A beautiful way to teach middle school readers about Native, Indigenous, and American Indian history.

    ‘This Land’ by Ashley Fairbanks, illustrated by Bridget George

    ‘This Earth’.

    An adorable primer on the history of the land and who lived where we did before we got here, this engaging book is a great way to introduce kids to the idea that we all come from somewhere and that even Disney World was something else, too. ever.

    ‘Fry Bread: A Native American Family History’ by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

    “Fry Bread, a Native American Family History”.

    This 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal winner and 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Illustrated Book Honor winner (among many other accolades) teaches children about the traditions of a Native American family through lyrical verses and beautiful illustrations. Have a snack – you might get hungry!

    ‘Remember’ by Joy Harjo

    ‘Remember’.

    American Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s iconic poem “Remember,” illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade, encourages young readers to reflect on their family, nature, and their heritage in this multi-award-winning book. It’s an inspiring addition to any child’s collection.

    Sakege
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like