5 Reads for Native American Heritage Month
November marks National Native American Heritage Month! There are many books to read as part of the month-long effort to honor the history, culture, and contributions of North America’s Indigenous peoples, but here are 5 suggestions from the Author Accelerator community!
Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer
In Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer, an Indigenous scientist of the Potawatomi Nation, makes a stunning and beautifully crafted case for marrying nature and land acknowledgement with our modern world. From a rainforest in Oregon to the plains of Oklahoma, the author’s stories illustrate how working with the land rather than crafting something on land to one’s own end can benefit ourselves and life around us. What results is a compelling read that will leave you curious and inspired.
An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States - Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz
Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz’s work An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States is a fantastic starting point for people of all ages who want to learn more about Native American history and culture. The book is the first written history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous people.
Crooked Hallelujah - Kelli Jo Ford
In Crooked Hallelujah, Kelli Jo Ford (Cherokee) provides a unique perspective through the story of four generations of Cherokee women, beginning in 1974 with 15-year-old Justine. The novel touches on the complicated experience of being a Native woman in a changing country as the family navigates single motherhood, poverty, oppression, and relationships.
Fry Bread – Kevin Nobel Maillard
This children’s book will leave your heart warm and your stomach rumbling! Learn about the history of food in Native cultures by following an Indigenous family making warm, delicious fry bread, a staple in Native American culture.
Carry - Toni Jensen
For fans of memoir, Toni Jensen tells a gripping and compelling story of growing up as an Indigenous woman in America through the lens of her experience with gun violence. Carry is a poetic story of survival and resilience from a Métis woman who “is a fearless witness to her own difficult history.”
What are you reading for Native American Heritage Month?
