First Nations Reads

"Saul Indian Horse has hit bottom. His last binge almost killed him, and now he's a reluctant resident in a treatment centre for alcoholics, surrounded by people he's sure will never understand him. But Saul wants peace,...

"An illustrated edition of the award-winning, bestselling Canadian classic, featuring over 150 new images that add colour and context to this extraordinary work. Since its publication in 2012, The inconvenient Indian has...

Looks at the experiences of a young Inuit girl returning from a residential religious school, where she is not recognized by her mother and is seen as an outsider.

When Ryan Taber's father begins his first tour of duty in Afghanistan, Ryan is thrilled to get a break from his overbearing father and can spend more time playing Desert Death online, until he meets the ultimate champion...

"Learn how to count to ten in Cree through the sights and sounds of a powwow! This unique counting book introduces children to numbers one to ten in Cree. Discover vibrant illustrations on every page that reflect the ric...

Joe and Cody are brothers who follow the caribou (ateek) all year long. Joe plays the accordion (kitoochigan) and Cody dances to entice the wandering caribou. But when thousands of caribou heed their call, the boys becom...

Celebrate the tradition of a boy and his grandmother picking wild berries in this beautifully illustrated book of the woodland landscape of the author's ancestral home.

Contains original, brightly coloured images and early education level concepts familiar to everyone.

Jake is a young boy whose puppy, Kamik, will not behave. Jake{u2019}s grandfather teaches him the importance of the bond between man and dog, by sharing his stories of raising many sled dogs. These stories are based on t...

"In 1993, the remains of a young woman were discovered at Nagami Bay, South Indian Lake, Manitoba. Out of that important archaeological discovery came this unique story about a week in the life of Pīsim, a young Cree wo...

In 1866, Omakayas's son Chickadee is kidnapped by two ne'er-do-well brothers from his own tribe and must make a daring escape, forge unlikely friendships, and set out on an exciting and dangerous journey to get back home...

A young boy spends a summer day picking wild blueberries with his grandmother in this beautiful new picture book by award-winning illustrator Julie Flett. Exploring the important tradition of berry picking, the story is ...

Jordon Tootoo has faced many challenges in his pursuit of his dream to play in the NHL. He became the first Inuk player in the league. His role as a captain, leader and teammate has made him popular with both players and...

"In the 1950s, 7-year-old Edmund Metatawabin was separated from his family and placed in one of Canada's worst residential schools. St. Anne's, in northern Ontario, is an institution now notorious for the range of punish...

A powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today. Whether addressing the effects of residential schools, calling out bullies through personal m...

A moon made of Copper is a collection of non-fiction poems that look at the continual maturing and growth of a human being. The poems were written while touring across Canada, and they capture Bose's experiences meeting...

Aisling, a young Cree woman, sets out into the wilderness with her Kokum (grandmother), Aunty and two young men she barely knows. They have to find and rescue her runaway younger brother, Eric. Along the way she learns t...

The Gift Is in the Making retells previously published Anishinaabeg stories, bringing to life Anishinaabeg values and teachings to a new generation. Readers are immersed in a world where all genders are respected, the ti...

"Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and s...

"Trailblazer. Residential school survivor. First Indigenous player in the NHL. All of these descriptions are true--but none of them tell the whole story. Fred Sasakamoose suffered abuse in a residential school for a deca...

A breathtaking companion to her bestselling debut 'The Break', Katherena Vermettes 'The Strangers' brings readers into the dynamic world of the Stranger family, the strength of their bond, the shared pain in their past, ...

COMPANION TO: DIPNETTING WITH DAD, ISBN 9781927575536. In his second book, Sellars continues the adventures of Little Brother as he grows and learns about the importance of hockey to his Secwepemc community. Dynamic illu...

"Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while Morgan has to make an important ...

"An exuberant celebration of the Buffalo's return to the wild. Since Declan was born, his kokum has shared her love of Buffalo through stories and art. But Declan longs to see real Buffalo. Then one magical night, herds...

"From chasing, chirping birds, to swimming, squirting whales, this book for young readers reminds them how animals play just like them."

French has been captured by the Recruiters, confined to one of the infamous residential schools, where the government extracts the marrow of Indigenous people in order to steal the ability to dream, and where the capture...

"Relinquished as an infant, Ruby is placed in a foster home and adopted by Alice and Mel, a less-than-desirable couple who can't afford to complain too loudly about Ruby's Indigenous roots. But when her new parents' marr...

"Thomas loves to tell stories. Big stories. Stories about how skilled he is on the land. But when one of his friends grows tired of his tall tales, Thomas has to prove how skilled he really is. Taking the challenge to sp...

In 1990 Rene Highway, a world-renowned dancer, died of an AIDS-related illness. 'Permanent Astonishment' is Tomson Highway's extravagant embrace of his younger brother's final words: "Dont mourn me, be joyful." Infused w...

"Richard Wagamese, one of Canada's most celebrated Indigenous authors and storytellers, was a writer of breathtaking honesty and inspiration. Always striving to be a better, stronger person, Wagamese shared his journey t...

"In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings. We accompany them through warm...

"A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern j...

"This book is a collection of stories about culture, history, and nationhood as told by Métis women. In this era of reconciliation, Stories of Métis Women explains the story of the Métis Nation from a their own perspe...

"The first treaty that was made was between the earth and the sky. It was an agreement to work together. We build all of our treaties on that original treaty. On the banks of the river that have been Mishomis's home his ...

"The hilarious story of an unlikely group of Indigenous dancers who find themselves thrown together on a performance tour of Europe in 1972. The Tour is all prepared. The Prairie Chicken dance troupe is all set for a fif...

These stories from the Peepeekisis Cree Nation tell of the Little People, Wesuketchuk, and the Sky People, and share the Plains Cree worldview, values, and spiritual beliefs. "nipakoseyimon eka ta-wanihtahk kinehiyawati...

"When the narrator of this fun and silly book is startled by the buzzing of a bee, she sets off on an adventure that sees her running from community to community, trying to lose her buzzing companion. When she has run cl...

"With crisp, luminous illustrations by celebrated Indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers, and a simple rhythmic text, this sturdy board book introduces the alphabet using iconic imagery of the West Coast."

It's 1956, and six-year-old Eddie Toma lives with his mother, Grace, and his little brother, Lewis, near the Salmon River on the far edge of the Okanagan Indian Reserve in the British Columbia Southern Interior. Grace, h...

"A young boy learns about the history of the fur trade and Louis Riel Day for a school project with the help of his grandfather in this illustrated picture book"--Provided by publisher.

"Bugz is caught between two worlds. In the real world, she's a shy and self-conscious Indigenous teen who faces the stresses of teenage angst and life on the Rez. But in the virtual world, her alter ego is not just confi...

In 'Unreconciled', a prominent Indigenous voice uncovers the lies and myths that affect relations between white and Indigenous peoples and the power of narrative to emphasize truth over comfort. Jesse Wente is an Ojibwe ...

"It's been said when teachings are passed down from one generation to the next, good things can happen. Language is learned, knowledge is shared and culture is practiced. In this story of language preservation, Author/Il...

"In the fifth book of the Mothers of Xsan series, award-winning author Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) introduces young readers to a pack of grey wolves. New pups have just begun to open their eyes, one of which is a st...

"Stories are medicine. During a time of heightened isolation, this bestselling author shares what he knows about the power of storytelling--and offers some of his own favourite stories from Elders, friends, and family. G...

Moar has always loved autumn - playing outside with his friends, feeling the weather get colder - but there is one thing about autumn that really worries Moar. The moon. The days become shorter and the moon, with its cre...

"In 1822, William Epps Cormack sought the expertise of a guide who could lead him across Newfoundland in search of the last remaining Beothuk camps on the island. In his journals, Cormack refers to his guide only as "My ...

"A heartrending true story about racial injustice, residential schools and a path forward Divided by a beautiful valley and 150 years of racism, the Waywayseecappo reserve and the town of Rossburn have been neighbours ne...

"Weaving her own story with the story of her ancestors and with the broader themes of creation, replacement, and disappearance, Krawec helps readers see settler colonialism through the eyes of an Indigenous writer. Settl...

"From the award-winning author of Black Water and On the Trapline, in his first novel for adults, the story of an estranged father and daughter who must find their way back to one another. Deep in the night, when Matthew...

"After discovering a near-lifeless Eli at the base of the Great Tree, Morgan knows she doesn't have much time to save him. And it will mean asking for help - from friends old and new. Racing against the clock, and with A...

"Anishinaabe culture and storytelling meet Alice in Wonderland in this coming-of-age graphic novel that explores Indigenous and gender issues through a fresh yet familiar looking glass. Aimée, a non-binary Anishinaabe m...

"The last thing that twelve-year old Misko wants to do is to move away from the city to spend time on the rez with her grandmother. And yet she feels strangely compelled to go, drawn by a pull that she feels in her dream...

"An urgent first novel about breaching the prisons we live inside from one of Canada's most daring literary talents. An unnamed narrator abandons his unfinished thesis and returns to northern Alberta in search of what el...

A reference for teaching the Plains Cree language. Following the themes of the Saskatchewan Curriculum Guide for Kindergarten to Grade 12 on Aboriginal Languages, the content focuses on terms familiar to the First Nation...

Many Indigenous cultures on Turtle Island recognize the Medicine Wheel as a sacred symbol. The Medicine Wheel has four equal areas; black, white, red and yellow. These areas represent the four directions, four seasons, f...

"For Hunter Frank, the summer of '79 begins with his mother returning home only to collect her welfare cheques for the last two months. When his older sister escapes their northern BC town and his brother goes to fight f...

"Award-winning Indigenous author Harold R. Johnson discusses the promise and potential of storytelling. Approached by an ecumenical society representing many faiths, from Judeo-Christians to fellow members of First Natio...

"The Mighty Muskrats are back with a chilly new mystery! Windy Lake First Nation is hosting the annual Trappers Festival, and the four Mighty Muskrats are excited about the dogsled races and the chance to visit with fami...

"Pinesiw Iskwew, Thunder Woman, Dr. Marlyn Cook, member of Misipawistik Cree Nation is the author of Walking the Red Road for Healing. This book is based on her life and journey as a Cree Woman, Pipe Carrier, Sundancer, ...

"Much-anticipated non-fiction from the author of the Giller-longlisted, GG-shortlisted and Canada Reads-winning novel Jonny Appleseed. In the last few years, following the publication of his debut novel Jonny Appleseed, ...

"This story is about the lands I was raised on. I come from the Gitksan and Nisga'a Nations, two neighbouring Nations that are tucked in the vast mountains of the Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Our Adaawk, our oral...

"At the time of the spring thaw, the Rocky Cree fill their canoes with furs, eager to trade with the new visitors in mistiwāsahak (Hudson Bay). But not all of the new visitors are welcome. When the canoes return home to...

"In this new edition of her powerful debut, Plains Cree writer and National Poet Laureate Louise B. Halfe - Sky Dancer reckons with personal history within cultural genocide. Employing Indigenous spirituality, black come...

"A powerful, often funny, always inspiring memoir from a beloved comedian, professional orator, actor, entertainer, gone all too soon. Candy Palmater loved to connect with people. She lived for the stage, her effervescen...

"Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. She'll be working in her family's ice-cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriend--whose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfort--and her former best friend, ...

Serpents and Other Spiritual Beings is a collection of traditional Ojibwe/Anishinaabe stories transliterated directly from Bomgiizhik Murdoch's oral storytelling. Part history, legend, and mythology, these are stories of...

In "The Net," a girl and her mother arrive at their secluded cabin on a frozen lake to find their fishing net has been attacked, a massive hole ripped through the middle. After the net has been mended and the night's cat...

"A new commemorative edition of Theodore Fontaine's powerful, groundbreaking memoir of survival and healing after years of residential school abuse. Originally published in 2010, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian ...

"Indig-enough is a self-awareness celebration of walking in two worlds. Whichever way you choose to present yourself to the world it is important to stand in your power and be true to yourself while holding onto your Tra...

"A "kunik" is a traditional Inuit greeting, often given to loved ones, in which a person places their nose on another's skin and breathes them in. Where the Sea Kuniks the Land extends that gesture of love to the Arctic ...

"n this harrowing survival story, Brian Koonoo takes off on a hunting trip in Canada's Arctic. After his snowmobile breaks down, his GPS loses signal, and his camping fuel runs low, Brian is left alone to survive for sev...

"A first-hand account of a Swampy Cree boy's experiences hunting and trapping in the upstream region of the Saskatchewan River Delta. Depicting a certain Indigenous lifestyle that existed in Northern Saskatchewan way pas...

"Anthology of personal essays by sixteen Sixties Scoop survivors from across Canada."-- Provided by publisher.

"The Missing Caribou Hide is a story that passes through the years in Tlicho history. It tells of times when people lived a simpler life built around the fur trade, hard work and helping one another. It tells of times wh...

"After finding out Mihko reinstated the Reckoner Initiative in Breakdown, Cole and Eva confronted Mihko head-on. But when Eva stumbles across a secret laboratory, she finds her worst nightmares come to life. After a vici...

"A simple story exploring the feelings of a mixed heritage child who begins to notice the physical differences between her mother's features and her own. One day, Izzy notices that her skin looks different from her mama'...

"In this adorable book to be shared with babies and toddlers, mothers explore their love for their babies as experienced through the five senses. From the sound of a baby's giggles to the smell of a kunik, this book cele...

"In this book, I, Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, show that sharing my story with the world helped me to process my feelings. My true orange shirt story encourages young children to open their hearts and li...

"Benny loves bananas. He eats them morning, noon, and night. He even rides a bike with a yellow banana seat. In fact, Benny has a secret, he hopes one day he will turn into a banana! And if there is one thing Benny knows...

"Walking as "quiet as mice and rabbits and deer" they come upon fresh moose droppings and set out to find the moose itself. They discover the branches where the moose ate breakfast, greet a chipmunk and goose, and inspec...

"A modern story of traditional Indigenous knowledge that follows a young boy and his Auntie as they gather and braid sweetgrass, one of the four sacred medicines."

"When the narrator of this fun and silly book is startled by the buzzing of a bee, she sets off on an adventure that sees her running from community to community, trying to lose her buzzing companion. When she has run cl...

"With crisp, luminous illustrations by celebrated Indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers, and a simple rhythmic text, this sturdy board book introduces the alphabet using iconic imagery of the West Coast."

In this tender picture book, Sara Florence Davidson transports readers to the excitement of a potlatch in Hydaburg, Alaska-her last memory of dancing with her late brother.

Oolichan Moon is a beautifully illustrated book about passing down traditional knowledge from Nisga'a Elders and the sacredness of traditional foods, particularly the oolichan fish. A gorgeous celebration of Nisga'a lang...

"As they await the birth of a new foal, a man teaches his grandchild about the Ojibwe Horses that used to roam the forests of northwestern Ontario. The horses once ran wild and free, but when Grandfather was a boy, they ...

"It's been said when teachings are passed down from one generation to the next, good things can happen. Language is learned, knowledge is shared and culture is practiced. In this story of language preservation, Author/Il...

"In Ben the Sea Lion, Tsimshian storyteller and acclaimed artist Roy Henry Vickers shares a treasured memory from his childhood in the Indigenous community of Kitkatla, on the north coast of British Columbia."--Back cove...

Rooted in the historical displacement and relocation of members of the Chemawawin First Nation from their ancestral homeland, The Move is a bilingual story of two Cree Elders adjusting to life in their new environment. T...

"Niitu's best friend is Chips. It doesn't matter that Niitu is a kid and Chips is a seal, they spend every moment they can together. When Niitu and Chips head out for a day at the lake, being a seal ends up coming in ver...

"A Rocky Cree girl must choose the skill that will define her miskanaw, the path of her life, in the second book of The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak series. Rocky Cree people understand that all children are b...

When he is gifted a handmade drum by his mother, Ren learns the teachings of the drum that she also passes down to him. Ren discovers that through this special drum, he is able to connect to his culture and find a confid...

"When the world gets too loud and chaotic, a young boy's grandfather helps him listen with wonder instead. Kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, balls bouncing-for Thunder, the sounds of the school day often brew into overw...

"Phoenix loves to play with dolls and marvel at pretty fabrics. Most of all, he loves to dance—ballet, Pow Wow dancing, or just swirling and twirling around his house. Sometimes Phoenix gets picked on and he strug...

"Ukpik's mother is eager to teach Ukpik how to prepare caribou skin, dry it, and use it to sew a pair of simple, useful mitts. But Ukpik can't stop thinking about the beautiful new beads her mother traded the Captain for...

Based on author Sara Florence Davidson's childhood memories, this illustrated story captures the joy and adventure of a Haida fish camp. Every summer, a Haida girl and her family travel up the Yakoun River on Haida Gwaii...

"'Maakusie loves music! But what makes music in the Arctic so special? Join Maakusie as he practises katajjaniq (throat singing) and learns ajaja songs, drumming, and more! Explore everything from traditional instruments...

This is an educational and heartfelt retelling of the story of the Mi'kmaq and their traditional lands, Mi'kma'ki, for young readers, focused on the generational traumas of the Indian Residential School System. Shanika M...

A vivid dream teaches Little Wolf about courage and acceptance of those who are different, and inspires her to show her daughters and their classmates how to be proud of their diverse cultural backgrounds. Throughout her...

"Animals Illustrated mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children's non-fiction books about Arctic ani...

"In this lovingly told book, a mother recounts for her daughter all the things she loves about her, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life. As her daughter's eyes gliste...

"Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)'s Mothers of Xsan series transports young readers to Northwestern British Columbia, where they ...

"In this moving follow-up to Joseph Dandurand's bestselling children's book The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Baskets, the sturgeon, spirit of the great river, eludes human fishers until two young sisters neglect to ...