Monday, November 14, 2022

November is Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month

Happy Native American Heritage Month! What does it mean to be Native American in modern times? The U.S. has a complex and fraught history with Native Americans and there are so many things that white Americans could learn in terms of the Native American experience, mired as we are in pervasive cultural stereotypes and prejudices, with a Hollywood veneer.

To delve a bit deeper into hearing their own voices and experiences, here is a list of a few books that we believe offer great insight. Please note that A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger was the winner of the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor award, and chosen as the 2022 Big Library Read (chosen by OverDrive/Libby as the global community read for the year.) For more titles, we recommend Debbie Reese’s blog: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/

If you’re interested in hearing more firsthand stories from other people/groups that are battling stereotypes, be sure to check out The Communication Project at the Library this Thursday, Nov. 24, starting at 5 pm. Choose from a variety of topics and talk one on one with volunteers to hear their perspective.