Native American Nonfiction
National Native American Heritage Month, observed in November, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions – historical and ongoing – of American Indians and Alaska Natives. This list was created by a librarian at The Seattle Public Library; annotations by staff, or as cited. (Created October 2024)
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The Rediscovery of America
Blackhawk (Western Shoshone) recenters the often-overlooked role of Native American communities and individuals in five centuries of American history through this sweeping study.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Tsimshian Eagle
"In this scrapbook-style volume, which includes hundreds of color photographs, Tsimshian artist and "culture bearer" David Boxley tells his personal story while offering readers an intimate look into his artistic process, his childhood home of Metlakatla, Alaska, and the history of the Tsimshian people." (Booklist)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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A Drum in One Hand, A Sockeye in the Other
Coté (Tseshaht/Nuu-chah-nulth) examines the efforts of her community to embrace and preserve traditional food practices, and, in the process, refashion their relationship to the physical and cultural well-being provided by food.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Living Resistance
(Potawatomi Nation) "In this motivating entry, poet Curtice encourages readers to fight against racism, patriarchy, and gender discrimination to make a more "whole" world, and to make doing so a lifelong commitment. To that end, she outlines four "realms" of resistance: personal (turning inward and asking questions); communal (making changes on a social level); ancestral (investigating one's roots and others'); and integral (resistance that involves all parts of the self)." (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Indigenous Firsts
Dennis (Cherokee/Sand Hill/Syrian) and Molin (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from White Earth) "offer an impeccably documented and inspirational survey of the groundbreaking accomplishments and achievements of Indigenous peoples. Organized into 14 chapters, this book focuses on U.S. (including Native Hawaiian) and Canadian First Nations individuals, communities, and groups across a wide range of fields - art, business, government, health, literature, media, military, religion, science, urban life, and sports." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Birds Through Indigenous Eyes
"This book that explores Indigenous beliefs about the birds of the Northeastern United States is the result of a collaboration among anthropologist Gaffin healer/naturalist Michael Bastine, of Algonquin descent and a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation of western Quebec; and naturalist/animal rehabilitator John Volpe, of Ojibwe and Métis descent and a member of the Nipissing First Nation of Ontario. This engaging work of ethno-ornithology is a must for bird watchers and readers who want to form a more profound relationship with nature." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Weaving Sundown in A Scarlet Light
"A former three-time U.S. Poet Laureate, Harjo celebrates her 50th year as a writer by gathering 50 of her best poems in this career-spanning volume. Powerful, personal, and deeply spiritual, these are the poems of a prophet, and as with the words of the greatest prophets, they transcend both category and culture, speaking with an awe-inspiring authority as they draw on Harjo's heritage as a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Ira Hayes
Holm (Cherokee Nation with Muskogee Creek ancestry) presents a "searching study of the psychically scarred Native American Marine Corps hero made famous for raising the American flag on Iwo Jima." (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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An Indigenous Present
"A monumental gathering of more than 60 contemporary artists, photographers, musicians, writers and more, showcasing diverse approaches to Indigenous concepts, forms and mediums." (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Serviceberry
"While picking serviceberries among singing birds doing the same, Kimmerer, a Potawatomi botanist, professor, MacArthur fellow, and writer renowned for Braiding Sweetgrass (2013), envisions a new take on a traditional way of living in sync with nature." (Booklist)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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