June marked National Indigenous History Month in Canada: a month during which extra attention is placed on Indigenous authors, and Canadians are urged to celebrate the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples living across the country.
What happens next?
Our individual and collective commitment to repairing relationships with Indigenous communities and to celebrating the lives and successes of their peoples is not simply a one-month project.
We share eight books that can help you to continue learning as the year unfolds.
Duncan McCue’s (Anishinaabe) memoir The Shoe Boy is described by publisher UBC Press as “an evocative exploration of Indigenous identity and connection to the land […] set on a trapline in northern Quebec.” McCue’s coming-of-age memoir is a deft exploration of contemporary Indigenous livelihood and the trials facing Indigenous youth as they navigate questions of self. An ideal book for readers of all ages who wish to discover more about the relationship Indigenous peoples have with their land, The Shoe Boy has been lauded as “Frank, funny, and evocative” (CBC Books) as well as “thoroughly enjoyable, nicely balanced” (Eastern Door).
(Rebel Mountain Press)
The second such anthology from Rebel Mountain Press, In Our Own Aboriginal Voice 2 is a collection of short fiction, non-fiction, and poetry from writers across Canada. Edited by Michael Calvert (Mid-Island Métis) this book also features original Indigenous artwork. Centring Indigenous story as a locus for Indigenous people to connect to their roots, the collection features work from a range of authors; from established voices like Connie Fife (Cree), to emerging authors such as Michelle Sylliboy (L’nu/Mi’kmaq), Joanne Arnott (Métis), and Dennis Saddleman (Nlaka’pamux) and contains contributions from 34 nations across Canada.
A collaboration between editors Dr. Martha Black, Dr. Lorne Hammond, and Dr. Gavin Hanke; with Nikki Sanchez (Pipil/Maya), Spirits of the Coast (Royal BC Museum) brings together multiple perspectives “to explore the magic, myths and ecology of orcas.” With a distinct focus on the voices of Indigenous knowledge keepers, Spirits of the Coast offers readers an opportunity to evaluate the impact that orcas have had on humans and engage with ideas of what our shared futures on Earth should look like.
Wa’xaid, also known as Cecil Paul, is a Xenaksalia elder widely respected as one of North America’s most important Indigenous leaders, not least because he is lauded as having saved the Kitlope— the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforest—from logging. Transcribed by Briony Penn, Stories from the Magic Canoe of Wa’xaid (Rocky Mountain Books) recounts “a lifetime of experience, suffering, and survival.” During a time when our concerns about the environment and our relationship with land grow by the day, Paul’s wisdom and teachings could not be more valuable or timely. The warmth that emanates from this book makes it all the more remarkable.
Released on the heels of his critically acclaimed, award-winning 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act (Page Two Books), Bob Joseph’s (Gwawaenuk) Indigenous Relations, from the same publisher, provides readers with “an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to work more effectively with Indigenous Peoples.” Written with Cynthia F. Joseph, the book is an essential tool for readers as they ask themselves what concrete steps they can take to respectfully engage with Indigenous communities.
(Douglas & McIntyre)
Released posthumously by Douglas & McIntyre, One Drum by Richard Wagamese (Ojibway) is a “fitting tribute” to a man described as “one of Canada’s foremost First Nations authors and storytellers.” Drawing from traditional Ojibway teachings, Wagamese expresses his belief that ceremony has the power to connect and unify people from all walks of life, regardless of background. Honest and hopeful, One Drum is a call to people to heal together and to foster community.
Forthcoming in October 2020, jaye simpson’s (Oji-Cree Saulteaux) debut book it was never going to be okay (Nightwood Editions) is an explosive excavation of “the intimacies of understanding intergenerational trauma, Indigeneity and queerness, while addressing urban Indigenous diaspora and breaking down the limitations of sexual understanding as a trans woman.” A raw portrayal of trans Indigiqueer lived experience, simpson’s mix of poetry and prose reveals the complexities of Indigenous livelihood and dismantles the notion that healing is inherently bound to a linear progression.
In the third stunning collaboration between Order of Canada member and award-winning writer David Bouchard (Métis) and illustrator Kristy Cameron (Métis) share Woodland-style paintings spiritual lessons from the Sun and seven sacred teachings in rhythmic poetry in What We Learn from the Sun (Medicine Wheel Education). After garnering significant acclaim for their previous books, The Seven Sacred Teachings (More Than Words Publishing) and Dreamcatcher and the Seven Deceivers (Crow Cottage Publishing), this book will make a beautiful addition to any child’s bookshelf.
We know this list contains just a fraction of incredible works.
What are you reading that you’d like us to know about?