November is National Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate the rich cultural traditions, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in North America. Complete activities and read books written by Indigenous authors. Log your reading and activities throughout the month to earn badges. This reading challenge is live on Beanstack from November 1st to December 3, 2023. Curious what you need to do? Sign up on Beanstack today either online or on the app!
This reading challenge has four different prize bundles for different age groups: a children’s picture book bundle, a middle grade chapter book bundle, a teen book bundle, and a gift card to Birchbark Books for adults.
Looking for some ideas of what to read? Check out the following websites and book recommendations put together by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team.
Native American Heritage
Native American Rights Fund: ‘Our Mission: The Native American Rights Fund holds governments accountable. We fight to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise.’ – from Native American Rights Fund website
Native Tribes Have Lost 99% of Their Land in the United States (video 4:26) – ‘New data set quantifies Indigenous land dispossession and forced migration’ – from video description
American Indian Library Association: ‘AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. At the time, there was increasing awareness that library services for Native Americans were inadequate. Individuals as well as the government began to organize to remedy the situation.’ – from American Indian Library Association website
Teaching and Learning about Native Americans : ‘Check out the answers to some of the questions that educators frequently ask about Native Americans.’ – from the National Museum of the American Indian
The Nation’s First Concentration Camp: A piece written by Primary Selections from Special Collections which is put together by the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center housed in the Main Street location of the Davenport Public Library.
Native American Tribes & the Indian History in Davenport, IA
Juvenile Books
Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell
Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud
Indigenous People’s Day by Katrina Phillips
Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories by Dan Jones
Native Americans in History: a History Book for Kids by Jimmy Beason
Fact and Fiction of American Colonization by Tammy Gagne
We are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell
Young Adult
The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by Maria Garcia Esperon
Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne Keene
Apple: Skin to the Core: a Memoir in Words and Pictures by Eric L. Gansworth
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Jean Mendoza
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
Trickster: Native American Tales: a Graphic Collection
Adult
A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South by Peter Cozzens
The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well by Chelsey Luger
We are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth
We Refuse to Forget: a True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power by Caleb Gale
An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle Mays
Unworthy Republic: the Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to India Territory by Claudio Saunt