Native American Heritage Month 🪶

 

In November we observe Native American Heritage Month--a time to celebrate the current achievements of the Native American community, but also a time to remember the culture and history of the past.

At Jessup Library, we want to share the fictional works of Native American authors, such as Tommy Orange's There There, about twelve different folks who travel to a powwow, all with their own reasons and complex background stories. Or, check out Louise Erdrich's The Round House, which follows the story of a family rocked by the assault on a mother and how her son tries to find answers beginning in the sacred space of the Round House. Leslie Marmon Silko's novel Ceremony follows the story of a young Native American man who was held captive by the Japanese in World War II and his journey to heal through the ceremony, traditions, and stories of his ancient culture. 

The nonfiction collection includes the seminal Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, a book that explores the devastation of the Native Americans during the nineteenth century, including the massacre at Wounded Knee, where 250 Lakota people were killed. Interested in Native American ceremonies? Pick up Bobby Lake-Thom's Spirits of the Earth and learn about Native American symbols, stories, and ceremonies. Like a good thriller? Check out David Grann's Killers of the Flower Moon, which delves into the murders of several Native American Osage in the 1920s Oklahoma, when many of the Osage people had become wealthy from the oil fields located on their lands and became targeted by some unscrupulous and dangerous men.

Enjoy reading about the history and the stories of Native America!