June is National Indigenous History Month, an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Explore our curated selection of books to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Indigenous histories, voices and perspectives.
Hummingbird = Aamo-Binashee by Jennifer Leason
Junior: Told in English and Saulteaux-Anishinaabemowin, this picture book explores a girl's struggle with the Windigo—symbolizing identity loss and despair—before finding hope and healing through ancestral teachings and a guiding hummingbird.
This Land by Ashley Fairbanks
Junior: Uses a child’s reflections and vibrant art to explore the importance of land acknowledgments and the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples across North America.
Bannock in a Hammock by Masiana Kelly
Junior: This rhyming picture book with some Inuktitut words celebrates the many ways to enjoy Bannock, a favourite Inuit food. It includes a recipe to try at home.
The Rez Doctor by Gitz Crazyboy
Teen: In this uplifting story, a young Indigenous man overcomes hardship to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor.
Beast by Richard Van Camp
Teen: This latest feat of storytelling magic by celebrated author Richard Van Camp blends sharply observed realism and hair-raising horror as it plays out against a 1980s-era backdrop replete with Platinum Blonde songs and episodes of Degrassi Junior High.
Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants by LoriAnn Bird
Adult: A purposeful reference guide related to the lessons, nourishment, healing and history of our "plant teachers," Revered Roots shares guidance on exploring, gathering and reclaiming these long-revered plants as food and medicine.
Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories by Amanda Peters.
Adult: The stories in Waiting for the Long Night Moon explore the Indigenous experience, ranging from contact to the forced removal of Indigenous children and the present fight for the right to clean water.
Original People, Original Television: The Launching of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network by Jennifer David
Adult: Explores the evolution of Indigenous-led broadcasting that led to the launch of the Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network.
Métis Music: Stories of Recognition and Resurgence by Monique Giroux.
Adult: What makes music Métis, and who gets to decide? Métis Music shows its readers what to listen for, how to learn by listening and the importance of acting intentionally with the learning gained through listening.
Beyond the Rink: Behind the Images of Residential School Hockey by Alexandra Giancarlo, Janice Forsyth, Branden Te Hiwi
Adult: In 1951, the Sioux Lookout Black Hawks hockey team from Pelican Lake Indian Residential School embarked on a promotional tour through Ontario. The sport and the tour were meant to assimilate the team into Canadian society, but also provided a welcome escape from the horrors of residential school life.
Bead Talk: Indigenous Knowledge and Aesthetics from the Flatlands by Judy Anderson, Katherine Boyer, Carmen Robertson
Adult: Beadwork artists from the Canadian prairies demonstrate how beads and the pieces they create tell stories and reclaim space and cultural identity.
