November, the month of gratitude, begins the season of gathering amongst family and friends. A season of joy, laughter, and good food. A season of giving.
November is also a time of reflection of the past and present. A month to honor the true stewards of these lands, and the ones that continue to fight for what’s rightfully theirs.
As many of us celebrate and gather with our loved ones, let’s also pay tribute and learn about the rich ancestry and traditions of the Indigenous People of the Americas.
Native American picture books that will inspire reflections and conversations with in the home:
1. When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
A grandmother, recalls and shares her experiences of being taken away from her family and stripped of her heritage while living in a residential school.
2. The First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American Story by Suzanne Greenlaw
A young girl accompanies her grandmother to pick grass for basket making. She learns the skill of basket making comes with patience, as the many generations of her ancestors had before her.
3. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
A vibrant story of family, resilience, tradition, and inheritance. Fry bread is the story of food and culture, and how it shapes family through generations.
3. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson
A brave Mohawk warrior loses his family in battle and seeks revenge against the Chief provoked fighting against the five Iroquois tribes. A story that honors the history of oral storytelling of North American Native tribes.
4. Shaped by Her Hands Potter Maria Martinez by Anne Harber Freeman
Maria Martinez was a famous Native American potter, who learned her technique from her aunt. She later perfected her firing technique…which made both her and her pots famous.
5. D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet by Debbie and Micheal Shoulders
From A to Z, Native American culture, traditions, and artifacts are related throughout the pages.
