Certain stories must be told.
Otherwise we forget or bury our heads in the sand or grow insensitive to reality and continued suffering.
To remain human, we need to remember, take responsibility, and make better choices with our resources.
I will begin with these voices and hope to educate myself first.
*These are the top 5 bestselling books by First Nations/Indigenous authors on our site (please ask your local library or bookstore to stock them):
1: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Based on a viral article, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act in Canada is the essential guide to understanding the legal document and its repercussion on generations of Indigenous Peoples, written by a leading cultural sensitivity trainer.
2: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
A groundbreaking Young Adult thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community.
3: Call Me Indian by Fred Sasakamoose
Subtitled: From The Trauma Of Residential School To Becoming The NHL's First Treaty Indigenous Player Trailblazer. Residential school survivor. First Treaty Indigenous player in the NHL. All of these descriptions are true--but none of them tell the whole story. This isn't just a hockey story; Sasakamoose's groundbreaking memoir sheds piercing light on Canadian history and Indigenous politics, and follows this extraordinary man's journey to reclaim pride in an identity and a heritage that had previously been used against him.
4: Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
A striking and precise coming-of-age novel, in which everyday teen existence meets Indigenous beliefs, crazy family dynamics and cannibalistic river otters.
5: Five Little Indians: A Novel by Michelle Good
Taken from their families when they are very small and sent to a remote, church-run residential school, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie are barely out of childhood when they are finally released after years of detention.
With compassion and insight, Five Little Indians chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and, ultimately, find a way forward.