BOOK LIST
Decolonizing and Indigenizing Classrooms and Libraries
https://bit.ly/NativeWaysofKnowingBooks
Does your classroom and library include Indigenous authored books? How do you choose children’s books about Native peoples? According to statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 1% of children’s books published in the United States in 2018 depict characters from American Indian and First Nation populations; and some of those books contain stereotypes. Traditionally, most individuals are socialized and incorrectly educated to think of Native peoples in only narrow and biased ways. All too often, children’s books unfortunately depict stories and characters with stereotypes, tokenism, and misrepresentations of Native Americans. Historically these books, images, and stories are deeply flawed and detrimentally impact American Indian students. Many children's books present Native Americans exclusively as historical figures, ignoring the presence and resilience of the 574 federally recognized and sovereign Native Nations in the United States today.
Regardless of intention, these depictions often reinforce inaccuracies and stereotypes and fail to include the diversity of Native peoples who have lived on this continent since time immemorial. Too often, particularly with older books, Native Americans are presented in the past tense as a generic group of people rather than as thriving communities with sovereign political status, self-governance, histories, languages, and stories. It’s important for children to see themselves portrayed authentically in stories and for kids of all races to gain an authentic view of other cultures.
As educators, we should select books and other materials that feature accurate and tribally specific portrayals of Native people, both past and present. To help educators and parents choose high-quality materials, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and California Indian Education (CIEFA) have designed this Native Ways of Knowing Book List: Decolonizing and Indigenizing Classrooms and Libraries. These books have been vetted by Native American scholars, CIEFA, and SDCOE. Please consider adding these insightful and vibrant Indigenous authored books to your school, classroom, or home library. Adding these books to your classroom will help teach young readers empathy, courage, resilience, sovereignty, and Native Ways of Knowing. These suggested Indigenous authors and illustrators utilize Indigenous storytelling and convey the breadth of Native cultures and sovereignty.
https://caindianeducationforall.com
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