20 Best Books By Native American Authors (2023 Update)

Winner of the 2020 robert f. sibert informational book medal – a 2020 american indian youth literature picture book honor winner“a wonderful and sweet book . . . lovely stuff.” —the new york times book review told in lively and powerful verse by debut author kevin noble maillard, fry bread is an evocative depiction of a modern native american family, vibrantly illustrated by pura belpre award winner and caldecott honoree juana martinez-neal. fry bread is food. – it is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate. – fry bread is time. – it brings families together for meals and new memories. – fry bread is nation. – it is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond. – it is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference. – a 2020 charlotte huck recommended book – a publishers weekly best picture book of 2019a kirkus reviews best picture book of 2019a school library journal best picture book of 2019a booklist 2019 editor's choice – a shelf awareness best children's book of 2019a goodreads choice award 2019 semifinalist – a chicago public library best of the best book of 2019a national public radio (npr) best book of 2019an ncte notable poetry book – a 2020 ncss notable social studies trade book for young people – a 2020 ala notable children's book – a 2020 ila notable book for a global society 2020 bank street college of education best children's books of the year list – one of npr's 100 favorite books for young readers – nominee, pennsylvania young readers choice award 2022-2022nominee, illinois monarch award 2022

Finalist for the 2019 national book awardlonglisted for the 2020 andrew carnegie medal for excellencea new york times bestseller named a best book of 2019 by the new york times, time, the washington post, npr, hudson booksellers, the new york public library, the dallas morning news, and library journal." chapter after chapter, it's like one shattered myth after another." – npr"an informed, moving and kaleidoscopic portrait… not only did one hundred fifty sioux die at the hands of the u. s. cavalry, the sense was, but native civilization did as well. growing up ojibwe on a reservation in minnesota, training as an anthropologist, and researching native life past and present for his nonfiction and novels, david treuer has uncovered a different narrative. because they did not disappear—and not despite but rather because of their intense struggles to preserve their language, their traditions, their families, and their very existence—the story of american indians since the end of the nineteenth century to the present is one of unprecedented resourcefulness and reinvention. in the heartbeat of wounded knee, treuer melds history with reportage and memoir. tracing the tribes' distinctive cultures from first contact, he explores how the depredations of each era spawned new modes of survival. the devastating seizures of land gave rise to increasingly sophisticated legal and political maneuvering that put the lie to the myth that indians don't know or care about property. the forced assimilation of their children at government-run boarding schools incubated a unifying native identity. conscription in the us military and the pull of urban life brought indians into the mainstream and modern times, even as it steered the emerging shape of self-rule and spawned a new generation of resistance. the heartbeat of wounded knee is the essential, intimate story of a resilient people in a transformative era.

The latest installment of the multimillion-selling killing series is a gripping journey through the american west and the historic clashes between native americans and settlers. the bloody battle of tippecanoe was only the beginning. it’s 1811 and president james madison has ordered the destruction of shawnee warrior chief tecumseh’s alliance of tribes in the great lakes region. but while general william henry harrison would win this fight, the armed conflict between native americans and the newly formed united states would rage on for decades. bestselling authors bill o’reilly and martin dugard venture through the fraught history of our country’s founding on already occupied lands, from general andrew jackson’s brutal battles with the creek nation to president james monroe’s epic “sea to shining sea” policy, to president martin van buren’s cruel enforcement of a “treaty” that forced the cherokee nation out of their homelands along what would be called the trail of tears. o’reilly and dugard take readers behind the legends to reveal never-before-told historical moments in the fascinating creation story of america. this fast-paced, wild ride through the american frontier will shock readers and impart unexpected lessons that reverberate to this day.

New york times bestseller – now part of the hbo docuseries "exterminate all the brutes," written and directed by raoul peck – recipient of the american book award – the first history of the united states told from the perspective of indigenous peoples today in the united states, there are more than five hundred federally recognized indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million native people who once inhabited this land. the centuries-long genocidal program of the us settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. now, for the first time, acclaimed historian and activist roxanne dunbar-ortiz offers a history of the united states told from the perspective of indigenous peoples and reveals how native americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the us empire. – with growing support for movements such as the campaign to abolish columbus day and replace it with indigenous peoples’ day and the dakota access pipeline protest led by the standing rock sioux tribe, an indigenous peoples’ history of the united states is an essential resource providing historical threads that are crucial for understanding the present. in an indigenous peoples’ history of the united states, dunbar-ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the united states and shows how policy against the indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. and as dunbar-ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like james fenimore cooper and walt whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military. jesup, who, in 1836, wrote of the seminoles: “the country can be rid of them only by exterminating them.” spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples’ history radically reframes us history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative. – an indigenous peoples' history of the united states is a 2015 pen oakland-josephine miles award for excellence in literature.

Winner of the gilder lehrman prize for military historywinner of the 2017 caroline bancroft history prizeshortlisted for the military history magazine book of the year award after the civil war the indian wars would last more than three decades, permanently altering the physical and political landscape of america. peter cozzens gives us both sides in comprehensive and singularly intimate detail. he illuminates the intertribal strife over whether to fight or make peace; explores the dreary, squalid lives of frontier soldiers and the imperatives of the indian warrior culture; and describes the ethical quandaries faced by generals who often sympathized with their native enemies. a smithsonian top history book of 2016a times (uk) book of the yearfinalist for the western writers of america 2017 spur award in best western historical nonfiction

This anthology of fiction, prose, and poetry celebrates the rich diversity of writing by native american women today. erdrich and laura tohe have gathered stories from across the nation that celebrate, record, and explore native american women's roles in community. the result is a rich tapestry that contains work by established writers along with emerging and first-time authors. contributors include louise erdrich, joy harjo, diane glancy, elizabeth cook-lynn, allison hedge coke, leanne howe, roberta hill, kim blaeser, linda legarde grover, with a foreword by winona laduke.

*includes pictures. *explains the origins, culture, and social structure of the navajo. *includes a bibliography for further reading. from the "trail of tears" to wounded knee and little bighorn, the narrative of american history is incomplete without the inclusion of the native americans that lived on the continent before european settlers arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries. since the first contact between natives and settlers, tribes like the sioux, cherokee, and navajo have both fascinated and perplexed outsiders with their history, language, and culture. in charles river editors' native american tribes series, readers can get caught up to speed on the history and culture of north america's most famous native tribes in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. the navajo are one of the most famous tribes in the united states, even though many of the important events in the people's history have been overlooked with the passage of time. still one of the biggest native american groups in america, the navajo are typically associated with the southwest and other tribes like the pueblo, and they are popularly remembered for the code talkers of world war ii, who used the navajo language to provide the american military with a code that could not be deciphered by enemy cryptologists. unfortunately, the 19th century was full of hardships for the navajo, particularly as american settlers pushed west in the later stages of the 1800s. they engaged in conflicts with the americans, but eventually they had to make the long walk, a march of over 300 miles from their homes to a reservation. like the cherokee's trail of tears, the long walk was an unmitigated disaster for the navajo, who only suffered more adversity in the years after the long walk as their lands and livelihoods were reduced. nevertheless, the navajo have successfully maintained their culture and traditions, which are some of the oldest and richest in north america, as evidenced by the code talkers in the 1940s. as anthropologists and scholars become more refined, they have been able to trace the navajo's history and identity in ways that allow them to compare and contrast to neighboring native american groups, which has led to a better understanding of their ancestors as well. today, the navajo people are the second largest federally-recognized tribe of the united states with over 300,000 members, which represents over 15% of the total native american population in america. native american tribes: the history and culture of the navajo comprehensively covers the culture and history of the famous tribe, profiling their origins, their famous leaders, and their lasting legacy. along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the navajo like you never have before, in no time at all.

This gorgeous volume draws from the vast archives of the national museum of the american indian and the voices of some of the most prominent native american scholars, writers, activists and tribal leaders. more than 300 full-color illustrations depict the artistry and culture of our hemisphere’s diverse indigenous peoples. with its insightful, firsthand prose, the book is a reminder that the ancient philosophies and folkways are just as valuable and relevant in today’s world as they were generations ago.

"i remember the day i lost my spirit." so begins the story of gertrude simmons, also known as zitkala-sa, which means red bird. born in 1876 on the yankton sioux reservation in south dakota, zitkala-sa willingly left her home at age eight to go to a boarding school in indiana. but she soon found herself caught between two worlds–white and native american. at school she missed her mother and her traditional life, but zitkala-sa found joy in music classes. "my wounded spirit soared like a bird as i practiced the piano and violin," she wrote. her talent grew, and when she graduated, she became a music teacher, composer, and performer. zitkala-sa found she could also "sing" to help her people by writing stories and giving speeches. as an adult, she worked as an activist for native american rights, seeking to build a bridge between cultures. the coauthors tell zitkala-sa's life by weaving together pieces from her own stories. the artist's acrylic illustrations and collages of photos and primary source documents round out the vivid portrait of zitkala-sa, a frightened child whose spirit "would rise again, stronger and wiser for the wounds it had suffered."

Joseph marshall is a member of the sicunga lakota sioux and has dedicated his entire life to the wisdom he learned from his elders. here he focuses on the twelve core qualities that are crucial to the lakota way of life–bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom, respect, honor, perseverance, love, humility, sacrifice, truth, and compassion. whether teaching a lesson on respect imparted by the mythical deer woman or the humility embodied by the legendary lakota leader crazy horse, the lakota way offers a fresh outlook on spirituality and ethical living.

"do not begrudge the white man his presence on this land. though he doesn't know it yet, he has come here to learn from us." — a shoshone elder the genius of the native americans has always been their profound spirituality and their deep understanding of the land and its ways. for three decades, author kent nerburn has lived and worked among the native american people.voices in the stones is a unique collection of his encounters, experiences, and reflections during that time. he takes us inside a traditional native feast to show us how the children are taught to respect the elders. he brings us to an isolated prairie rock outcropping where a young native man and his father show us how the power of ceremony connects the present with the ancient voices of the past. at a dusty roadside café he introduces us to an elder who remembers the time when his ancestors could talk to animals.

In this revolutionary self-help guide, two beloved native american wellness activists offer wisdom for achieving spiritual, physical, and emotional wellbeing rooted in indigenous ancestral knowledge. when wellness teachers and husband-wife duo chelsey luger and thosh collins founded their indigenous wellness initiative, well for culture, they extended an invitation to all to honor their whole self through native wellness philosophies and practices. in reclaiming this ancient wisdom for health and wellbeing–drawing from traditions spanning multiple tribes–they developed the seven circles, a holistic model for modern living rooted in timeless teachings from their ancestors. luger and collins have introduced this universally adaptable template for living well to ivy league universities and corporations like nike, adidas, and google, and now make it available to everyone in this wise guide. the seven circles model comprises interconnected circles that keep all aspects of our lives in balance, functioning in harmony with one another. they are: food movement sleep ceremony sacred space land community in the seven circles, luger and collins share intimate stories from their life journeys growing up in tribal communities, from the indigenous tradition of staying active and spiritually centered through running and dance, to the universal indigenous emphasis on a light-filled, minimalist home to create sacred space. along the way, luger and collins invite readers to both adapt these teachings to their lives as well as do so without appropriating and erasing the original context, representing a critical new ethos for the wellness space. each chapter closes with practical advice on how to engage with the teachings, as well as wisdom for keeping that particular circle in harmony with the others. with warmth and generosity–and 75 atmospheric photographs by collins throughout–the seven circles teaches us how to connect with nature, with our community, and with ourselves, and to integrate ancient indigenous philosophies of health and wellbeing into our own lives to find healing and balance.

Learn about the rich history of north america through the legends and tales of those who inhabited the land first in voices of the winds. this wonderfully appealing anthology gathers more than 130 native american legends, many told to the authors by elder storytellers and tribal historians. the legends feature a broad array of mythical figures, such as thunderbird, coyote, and raven, as well as human-like characters "the girl who married the moon" and "two brothers who became stars." organized by region–with tales from the northwest, southwest, great plains, southeast, and northeast–the legends are drawn from many tribes, including the wasco, aleut, apache, yosemite, cheyenne, sioux, hopi, navajo, chippewa, cherokee and others, and are introduced by an informative headnote, accompanied by a variety of evocative line-art drawings. the stories include: the bridge of the gods, wasco – raven's great adventure, alaska – song of the horses, navaho – origin of fire, jicarilla-apache – the corn ceremony, hidatsa – the great serpent and the great flood, chippewa-ojibwa – the origin of earth, tuskegee – the legend of the bear family, penobscot – the origin of the iroquois nations, iroquois – get to know the first peoples of north america through these stories from their rich oral traditions.

If you want to discover native american history then keep reading… two captivating manuscripts in one book: native american history: a captivating guide to the long history of native americans including stories of the wounded knee massacre, native american tribes, hiawatha and more trail of tears: a captivating guide to the forced removals of cherokee, muscogee creek, seminole, chickasaw, and choctaw nations "history is written by the victors," said the victor winston churchill. but does that compromise the truth of what really happened? propaganda has always played a crucial role in turning tides and swaying opinion, and in few places is that more pronounced than in the wholesale slaughter of the native peoples in both north and south america. when some of the people of european descent could not get what they wanted from the native americans, they would demonize or dehumanize them so that the american people would clamor for government intervention. this is, for example, evident by analyzing andrew jackson's speech to congress on indian removal where he would refer to the native americans as savages. in this new bundle book from captivating history, you will discover the shocking and controversial history of the native americans. part 1 of this book include topics such as startlin theories of the arrival of the first native americans the current understanding of similar and rival tribes based on region arctic and subarctic tribes and nations northeastern and southeastern peoples plains and plateau peoples california and northwest coast hiawatha, deganawida, and the foundation for democracies today roanoke – the lost settlement the truth about pocahontas the real first thanksgiving – the myth versus reality the native american role in the war for independence sacagawea – the woman behind the legend the seminole wars sitting bull – fighting despite all odds wounded knee the unbreakable code of the code talkers and a great deal more you don't want to miss out on the following topics will be covered in part 2 of this book the early relationship the growth of manifest destiny the discovery of gold and the indian removal act peaceful protests and a push for recognition the people versus the president the militia force removal the trail of tears stories of pain, loss, and love making a new home and a great deal more you don't want to miss out on get the book now to learn more about the native americans

If you want to discover native american history then keep reading… two captivating manuscripts in one book: native american history: a captivating guide to the long history of native americans including stories of the wounded knee massacre, native american tribes, hiawatha and more trail of tears: a captivating guide to the forced removals of cherokee, muscogee creek, seminole, chickasaw, and choctaw nations "history is written by the victors," said the victor winston churchill. but does that compromise the truth of what really happened? propaganda has always played a crucial role in turning tides and swaying opinion, and in few places is that more pronounced than in the wholesale slaughter of the native peoples in both north and south america. when some of the people of european descent could not get what they wanted from the native americans, they would demonize or dehumanize them so that the american people would clamor for government intervention. this is, for example, evident by analyzing andrew jackson's speech to congress on indian removal where he would refer to the native americans as savages. in this new bundle book from captivating history, you will discover the shocking and controversial history of the native americans. part 1 of this book include topics such as startlin theories of the arrival of the first native americans the current understanding of similar and rival tribes based on region arctic and subarctic tribes and nations northeastern and southeastern peoples plains and plateau peoples california and northwest coast hiawatha, deganawida, and the foundation for democracies today roanoke – the lost settlement the truth about pocahontas the real first thanksgiving – the myth versus reality the native american role in the war for independence sacagawea – the woman behind the legend the seminole wars sitting bull – fighting despite all odds wounded knee the unbreakable code of the code talkers and a great deal more you don't want to miss out on the following topics will be covered in part 2 of this book the early relationship the growth of manifest destiny the discovery of gold and the indian removal act peaceful protests and a push for recognition the people versus the president the militia force removal the trail of tears stories of pain, loss, and love making a new home and a great deal more you don't want to miss out on get the book now to learn more about the native americans

A groundbreaking dakota author and activist chronicles her refusal to assimilate into nineteenth-century white society and her mission to preserve her culture—with an introduction by layli long soldier, winner of the national book critics circle award and the pen/jean stein book award for whereas bright and carefree, zitkála-šá grows up on the yankton sioux reservation in south dakota with her mother until quaker missionaries arrive, offering the reservation’s children a free education. the catch: they must leave their parents behind and travel to indiana. curious about the world beyond the reservation, zitkála-šá begs her mother to let her go—and her mother, aware of the advantages that an education offers, reluctantly agrees. but the missionary school is not the adventure that zitkála-šá expected: the school is a strict one, her long hair is cut short, and only english is spoken. she encounters racism and ridicule. slowly, zitkála-šá adapts to her environment—excelling at her studies, winning prizes for essay-writing and oration. but the price of success is estrangement from her cultural roots—and is it one she is willing to pay? combining zitkála-šá’s childhood memories, her short stories, and her poetry, american indian stories is the origin story of an activist in the making, a remarkable woman whose extraordinary career deserves wider recognition.the modern library torchbearers series features women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance.

A groundbreaking dakota author and activist chronicles her refusal to assimilate into nineteenth-century white society and her mission to preserve her culture—with an introduction by layli long soldier, winner of the national book critics circle award and the pen/jean stein book award for whereas bright and carefree, zitkála-šá grows up on the yankton sioux reservation in south dakota with her mother until quaker missionaries arrive, offering the reservation’s children a free education. the catch: they must leave their parents behind and travel to indiana. curious about the world beyond the reservation, zitkála-šá begs her mother to let her go—and her mother, aware of the advantages that an education offers, reluctantly agrees. but the missionary school is not the adventure that zitkála-šá expected: the school is a strict one, her long hair is cut short, and only english is spoken. she encounters racism and ridicule. slowly, zitkála-šá adapts to her environment—excelling at her studies, winning prizes for essay-writing and oration. but the price of success is estrangement from her cultural roots—and is it one she is willing to pay? combining zitkála-šá’s childhood memories, her short stories, and her poetry, american indian stories is the origin story of an activist in the making, a remarkable woman whose extraordinary career deserves wider recognition.the modern library torchbearers series features women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance.

Through carefully chosen stories from the olden days and art that meticulously reflects traditional designs and colors, goble provides wonderful insights into the spiritual life of the plains indians. his intimate knowledge of their world transports the reader into a vision of the sacred beauty and wisdom that defined traditional native america.

The three sisters set up a small shanty known as fort conley and defended the wyandot spirits final resting place in heron cemetery, kansas. since no man would represent native american women in court. lyda presented their case to the supreme court. the conely sisters won their case 67 years later.

The lakȟóta are among the best-known native american peoples. in popular culture and even many scholarly works, they were once lumped together with others and called the sioux. this book tells the full story of lakȟóta culture and society, from their origins to the twenty-first century, drawing on lakȟóta voices and perspectives. in lakȟóta culture, "listening" is a cardinal virtue, connoting respect, and here authors rani-henrik andersson and david c. posthumus listen to the lakȟóta, both past and present. the history of lakȟóta culture unfolds in this narrative as the people lived it. fittingly, lakhota: an indigenous history opens with an origin story, that of white buffalo calf woman (ptesanwin) and her gift of the sacred pipe to the lakȟóta people. drawing on winter counts, oral traditions and histories, and lakȟóta letters and speeches, the narrative proceeds through such periods and events as early lakȟóta-european trading, the creation of the great sioux reservation, christian missionization, the plains indian wars, the ghost dance and wounded knee (1890), the indian new deal, and self-determination, as well as recent challenges like the #nodapl movement and management of covid-19 on reservations. this book centers lakȟóta experience, as when it shifts the focus of the battle of little bighorn from custer to fifteen-year-old black elk, or puts american horse at the heart of the negotiations with the crook commission, or explains the lakȟóta agenda in negotiating the fort laramie treaty in 1851. the picture that emerges–of continuity and change in lakȟóta culture from its distant beginnings to issues in our day–is as sweeping and intimate, and as deeply complex, as the lived history it encompasses.