Native American Heritage Month

The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmasking of US History by Ned Blackhawk

Ned Blackhawk’s sweeping retelling of U.S. history highlights the essential role Native Americans have played in shaping the nation, challenging the traditional narrative that often marginalizes their contributions. Spanning five centuries, Blackhawk interweaves Native and non-Native histories, showing how Indigenous communities influenced key events like European colonization, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the rise of Native American self-determination in the 20th century. This transformative account offers a fuller, more accurate understanding of the United States.

The Wisdom of Native Americans by Kent Nerburn

This collection of writings from respected Native American leaders and thinkers offers profound insights into the connection with the land, the environment, and the simple joys of life. Their timeless teachings provide valuable lessons on living and learning.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

In the 1920s, the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma became incredibly wealthy after oil was discovered beneath their land, but soon, members of the tribe began to be mysteriously killed. Mollie Burkhart’s family became a primary target, and as the death toll rose, the FBI took over the investigation, eventually uncovering a chilling conspiracy. Killers of the Flower Moon details this shocking series of murders, exposing deep-rooted prejudice and corruption.

Spirits of the Earth: a Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories and Ceremonies by Bobby Lake-Thom

Signs and Symbols of the Native American Medicine Wheel by Bobby Lake-Thom is a profound compilation of Native American legends and rituals, exploring how nature’s creatures can aid in healing and self-awareness. Drawing on ancient knowledge passed down from Native healers, Lake-Thom explains the symbolic meanings of animals and how they can offer guidance, wisdom, and spiritual strength. This enlightening book includes practical exercises for connecting with nature’s signs and expanding spiritual influences in our lives.

Voices of the Winds: Native American Legends by Margot Edmonds

Voices of the Winds is a captivating anthology that showcases over 130 Native American legends, many shared by elder storytellers and tribal historians. Featuring mythical figures like Thunderbird, Coyote, and Raven, as well as human characters like “The Girl Who Married the Moon,” these tales are organized by region and drawn from numerous tribes, including the Navajo, Sioux, and Cherokee. This collection offers a rich insight into the oral traditions of North America’s first peoples.

Native Nations: A Millennium in North America by Kathleen DuVal

Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal offers a sweeping history of Indigenous North America, highlighting the power and sovereignty of Native nations from ancient cities to ongoing struggles for self-determination. DuVal reframes North American history by focusing on how Indigenous peoples, with their complex societies and diplomacy, navigated and often influenced European colonization. From early urban civilizations to the resilient resistance against U.S. expansion, this book underscores the lasting power and sovereignty of Native nations in shaping the continent’s history.

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer

The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer challenges the conventional narrative that Native American history ended with the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. Through history, reportage, and memoir, Treuer explores how Native peoples, despite immense struggles, have continuously adapted, reinvented themselves, and fought for survival. From legal battles and cultural preservation to military service and urban migration, Treuer reveals how Native Americans have shaped their own resilience and identity into the modern era.

This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, the Plymouth Colony and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J. Silverman

This Land Is Their Land by David J. Silverman reexamines the founding of Plymouth Colony and the first Thanksgiving, placing the Wampanoag people at the center of the story. Through a detailed exploration of the Wampanoags’ alliance with the Pilgrims, Silverman reveals the complex history of mutual defense, tensions, and eventual conflict, culminating in King Philip’s War. He challenges the myth of Thanksgiving as a symbol of peaceful coexistence, shedding light on the ongoing struggle for Native self-determination and why some Native Americans observe a Day of Mourning instead.

The Three-Cornered War: The Union, The Confederacy and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West by Megan Kate Nelson

The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson explores the Civil War’s impact on the American West, weaving together the Indian Wars, western expansion, and national conflict. Through the stories of nine key individuals—including soldiers, frontiersmen, and Native leaders—Nelson reveals how personal struggles for control and self-determination shaped this crucial yet overlooked period in U.S. history. The book provides a deeply researched, dramatic account of the Western battles that were pivotal to the outcome of the Civil War.

The Earth is All That Lasts: Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and the Last Stand of the Great Sioux Nation by Mark Lee Gardner

The Earth Is All That Lasts is a dual biography of two iconic Lakota leaders, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, who led the Sioux in their most significant victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Their lives, shaped by the encroachment of white settlers, buffalo depletion, and relentless conflict, are explored in this gripping narrative. This book reveals their stories of resistance, leadership, and the eventual tragic downfall of their way of life, offering a powerful tribute to their enduring legacy in American history.

Black Elk Speaks: Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux by John G. Neihardt

Black Elk Speaks tells the profound story of Nicholas Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota visionary and healer, as he reflects on his people’s struggles during the late 19th century. Through his searing spiritual visions and his conversation with author John G. Neihardt, Black Elk offers a timeless message of unity between humanity and Earth. This classic work is both a personal memoir and a spiritual testament, capturing the essence of Native American life and thought.

Cahokia: Ancient America’s Great City on the Mississippi by Timothy R. Pauketat

Cahokia tells the story of the ancient city of Cahokia, located near modern-day St. Louis, which flourished nearly a thousand years ago along the Mississippi River. Once the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico, Cahokia was home to a complex civilization with impressive astronomical knowledge, large feasts, and unsettling signs of human sacrifice. Expert Timothy Pauketat brings this lost city and its rich history to life, revealing an extraordinary chapter of prehistoric America.

Tecumseh and the Prophet: the Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation by Peter Cozzens

Peter Cozzens’ biography sheds light on the overlooked partnership between Tecumseh and his younger brother, Tenskwatawa, in leading the last great pan-Indian confederacy against the United States. While Tecumseh was the prominent diplomat, Tenskwatawa played a vital role by uniting tribes through his spiritual influence, challenging the westward expansion like no others in Native American history.

American Indian Myths & Legends by Richard Erdoes

This collection brings together 160 tales from 80 tribes, presenting a vivid panorama of Native American myths, including stories of creation, love, heroes, and tricksters. Compiled by anthropologist Alfonso Ortiz and storyteller Richard Erdoes, it draws on authentic 19th-century sources to create the most comprehensive volume of American Indian myths available.

Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII by Chester Nez

This memoir by Chester Nez, one of the last surviving original Navajo code talkers of WWII, shares his experiences of developing the unbroken Navajo Code and his life on the Navajo Reservation that prepared him for service. Nez’s story reveals the untold bravery and secrecy of the 400 Navajo code talkers, whose work remained classified until 1968.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist and Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Robin Wall Kimmerer blends scientific inquiry with Indigenous wisdom to illustrate the importance of recognizing our reciprocal relationship with nature. She argues that true ecological awareness comes from understanding and honoring the teachings of plants and animals, fostering a deeper connection with the living world.

In the Hands of the Great Spirit: The 20,000-Year History of American Indians by Jake Page

Jake Page’s In the Hands of the Great Spirit reexamines the history of American Indians over 20,000 years, challenging the narrative of a 500-year tragedy and incorporating recent archaeological discoveries and scholarship. Page explores pre-European life, intertribal dynamics, and the complex encounters with Europeans, while highlighting the resurgence of Native American populations and resources in the late 20th century. This comprehensive work reshapes our understanding of the resilience and impact of Native American societies on American history.

Carry: A Memoir of Survival on Stolen Land by Toni Jensen

Toni Jensen’s Carry is a poetic memoir exploring her experiences as a Métis woman confronting gun violence and its intersection with indigenous identity in America. Through personal and historical reflections, Jensen recounts her encounters with violence—from rural Iowa to Standing Rock—and highlights the hidden, pervasive threats faced by indigenous women. Each chapter reveals the deep emotional and cultural impact of living amidst a violent landscape, making Carry a powerful testament to survival and witness.