Those who were living in the Chequamegon Bay long before the European settlement have many names: Anishinabek, Ojibwe, Chippewa, Anishinaabe, American Indian, Native American and Indian.  This collection highlights books with indigenous people as the subject and often as the creator. The goal is to celebrate and honor the culture and legacy of native people.  It is not exhaustive and If you would like to suggest additions to the collection, please send a note sadams@vaughnlibrary.org.  To find more books in the library visit our Indigenous Peoples section, look for books with a blue dot on the spine or ask a librarian, we are happy to help.  There are links listed below from a presentation by educator Dr. Debbie Reese.  

Books for Kids

Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie

Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-Niimi'idim by Brenda Child

Fry Bread : A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

Blueberry Patch = Meennunyakaa by Jennifer Leason

Keeshig & the Ojibwe Pterodactyls by Keeshig Spade

First Laugh Welcome, Baby! by Rose Ann Tahe

The Range Eternal by Lousie Erdrich

Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew

Shi-Shi-etko by Nicola Campbell

The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice McGinty

On the Trapline by David Robertson 

Books for Teens & Tweens

The Mishomis Book: the Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

A Boy Called Slow: the True Story of Sitting Bull by Joseph Bruchac

Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina by Maria Tallchief

Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis

Mary and the Trail of Tears by Andrea Rogers

Sisters of Neversea by Cynthia Leitich Smith

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Apple: Skin to the Core by Eric Gansworth

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth

Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations by Susan Shown Harjo

Resources Shared During Dr. Debbie Reese's Presentation at the Dakota County Library

• Dr. Debbie Reese’s blog: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/p/about.html
• Dr. Debbie Reese’s Twitter account: https://twitter.com/debreese
• Why Treaties Matter: http://treatiesmatter.org/exhibit/
• Rethinking Native Stories in the Classroom: https://ncte.org/blog/2018/11/can-better-rethinking-native-stories-classrooms/
• Affirming Indigenous Sovereignty—A Civics Inquiry: https://www.socialstudies.org/system/files/publications/articles/yl_3101012.pdf
• The National Museum of American Indian (NMAI): https://americanindian.si.edu/
• National Museum of the American Indian’s Guide to Native American Literature in Your Classroom (worksheet rubric included) https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/pdf/Native-American-Literature-in-Your-Classroom-Full.pdf
• Heartdrum imprint of HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/heartdrum-books-by-native-american-authors
• Teacher/Librarian/Parent/Educator Guide for An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States for Young People: http://www.beacon.org/An-Indigenous-Peoples-History-of-the-United-States-for-Young-People-P1492.aspx
• American Indian Library Association: https://ailanet.org/
• American Indian Youth Literature Award: https://ailanet.org/activities/american-indian-youth-literature-award/  
• Minnesota Humanities Center’s Minnesota Native American Lives Series https://mnhum.org/stories-and-culture/minnesota-native-american-lives-series/
• One Book, One Minnesota Statewide Bookclub featuring Marcie Redmon (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N_GDdauUcc
• Minnnesota Humanities Center Absent Narrative Resource Collection: Assessing American Indian resources: http://humanitieslearning.org/resource/index.cfm?act=1&TagID=&CatID=0&SearchText=Considerations%20for%20Selecting%20and%20Assessing%20American%20Indian%20Resources&SortBy=1&mediatype=&lurl=1
• Dr. Debbie Reese’s recommendations on comics and graphic novels by Indigenous and Native writers and illustrators: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2018/08/best-graphic-novels-by-native-writers.html
• American Library Association’s Updated Code of Ethics Featuring Racial and Social Justice: https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/07/ala-adopts-new-code-ethics-principle-racial-and-social-justice
• Dakota County Library’s recorded event with Children’s Author Dawn Quigley (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSM3Osf0pwc
• Native-Land.ca https://native-land.ca/
• The Bdote Memory Map: http://bdotememorymap.org/
• The Scared Land Film Project--Bdote in Mni Sota: https://sacredland.org/bdote/
• Absent Narratives Resource Collection: http://www.humanitieslearning.org/resource/
• Absent Narratives: Educator Resources https://mnhum.org/k12/educator-resources/
• The US and Dakota War: https://www.usdakotawar.org/