The Water Walker by Anishinaabe author, illustrator and water protection activist Joanne Robertson tells the true story of Josephine Mandamin, an Ojibwe grandmother who walks to protect Nibi (water) for future generations.
The work of decolonization requires readers, young and old, to diversify the stories they consume. IndigiNews created this list for Decolonizing your teen’s bookshelf and this one for Decolonizing your child’s bookshelf.
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Learn about Authentic Engagement of First Nations and Métis Traditional Knowledge Keepers in this guide created by the Wîcihitowin Conference Committee.
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Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre sees how racism occurs at all levels of society and that anti-racism is an active way of seeing and being in the world, in order to transform it. To this end the ACLRC offers anti-racism training and resources through a learning toolkit with Calgary Anti-Racism Education
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YES! Magazine tackles the concept of white privilege and lays out examples of what it looks like in everyday life in their article, 10 Examples That Prove White Privilege Exists in Every Aspect Imaginable
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Recognizing white privilege begins only with understand of what the term means. Learning for Justice breaks it down in an easy to understand way and explains the impact of systemic racism and bias in their article, ‘What is White Privilege, Really?’
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Understanding intergenerational trauma is important to address well-being in Indigenous communities. This paper, Aboriginal Peoples and Historic Trauma: The process of intergenerational transmission, by the National Collaboration Centre for Aboriginal Health introduces Trauma Theory and how it is transmitted through generations.
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This article on the Local Love website looks at how the trauma from residential schools can impact individuals and communities today. It looks at how intergenerational trauma has mental and physical effects and how to stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma and how can on heal from it.
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In June 2020, Brandi Morin wrote for ELLE magazine this piece on how the media needs more voices of Black, Indigenous and people of colour to stop perpetuating systemic racism.
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The Saskatchewan Intercultural Association works to promote harmony among all people and offers programs and services that empower relieve barriers for Newcomers and Indigenous people. Their Cultural Resource Centre has links to resources on residential schools, Indigenous worldview, true history, languages and more.
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Teoni Spathelfer writes the stories that “have always been part of who I am as far back as I can remember.” Little Wolf starts the series of three children’s books.
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Read the Decolonize Myself blog for First Nations perspectives of colonialization, decolonialization, healing, and culture, and check out the resource links.
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GoodMinds.com a First Nations family-owned business focusing on First Nations, Metis and Inuit authorship and education. Browse through their amazing collection of Indigenous books.
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Learn more about the residential school experience. Read ‘Lessons Learned’, a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which shares experiences of residential school survivors and shapes future work towards truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing.
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National accounting and tax firm MNP has released An Introductory Guide To Understanding Indigenous Rights. The book looks at Indigenous and Treaty Rights and Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples. Proceeds the book are being set aside within MNP’s Communities Forward community investment fund for the benefit of grassroots First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth initiatives.
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The University of Saskatchewan has shared their Indigenous Strategy online. ohpahotân I oohpaahotaan let’s fly up together, challenges all of us to engage in the difficult work of resetting relationships.
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Winnipeg environmental activist Clayton Thomas-Muller details what life was like growing up as an Indigenous youth in Winnipeg’s inner city: Life in the City of Dirty Water
“This is my story. It is the story of many Indigenous Peoples who find themselves in one of Canada’s inner cities with questions. It is the story of how we became dispossessed and how we rise.”
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If you are looking for resources for reconciliation to support youth, check out Medicine Wheel Education. They publish culturally authentic Indigenous books, resources and tools specialized for moral and cultural education for children. Titles include Beyond the Orange Shirt Story and Drum for the Heart.
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Download the ebook Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in Saskatchewan, a resource for educators
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Action & Justice Everyday is a post by Michael Redhead Champagne on his blog that is designed helps youth to discover their own path. Through his blogs he brings attention to problems faced by Indigenous Peoples, Calls to Action and Calls to Justice.
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The book, A Line of Blood and Dirt: Creating the Canada-United States Border across Indigenous Lands, covers 150 years of history spanning two countries and dozens of ethnic groups. It’s a look at the messy and often violent history of the world’s longest undefended border.
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Read Red Dresses on Bare Trees: Stories and Reflections on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The book includes essays and reflections by both men and women, because it seeks to help bring balance to our collective, equally important and unique, roles and responsibilities. It hopes to incorporate Indigenous knowledge principles about relationships and love in the hope that we can begin to emulate and live our lives in balance.
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In Plain Sight is the report of the Addressing Racism Review that is set to address Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in the British Columbia Health Care system.
Read the Summary Report or the Full Report
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You know it’s delicious, but take a minute to learn more about bannock. Read and listen to the CBC Unreserved episode – Bannock: A brief history
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In Indigenous Writes, author Chelsea Vowel, starts an important dialogue about social beliefs associated with the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada. In 31 essays, Chelsea explores the Indigenous experience from the time of contact to the present through five categories: Terminology of Relationships; Culture and Identity; Myth-Busting; State Violence and Land, Learning, Law and Treaties.
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Eagle and the Crow, a story of peace, friendship and respect, as told by Vern Severight (Cote First Nation) on July 6, 2020
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The Saskatoon Public Library is continually seeking ways to engage and honour Indigenous perspectives to ensure that the library is reflective of the community. They have created a page for reconciliation with information and resources
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Do you dream of having a curated collection of Indigenous literature and giftware? Dream no more and make it a reality. Sign up for Raven Reads, a subscription service for Indigenous books.
Read MoreHear from people like poet Rebecca Lea Thomas, writer Joshua Whitehead, and multidisciplinary artist Moe Clark.
Have Indigenous artists you love? Let us know and we can add them to our list. Email beaconnectr@gmail.com
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Learn about about the fight of the Métis people for recognition in Canada. The North-West Is Our Mother is written by the great-grandniece of Louis Riel.
Listen to Jean Teillet talk about the book on the Sunday Edition.
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Learn about reconciliation happening in other places. Reconciliation Australia, promotes and facilitates respect, trust and positive relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Increasing libraries are getting onboard with Reconciliation – offering up activities, reading spaces and books in their branches.
If you can’t make it in, many libraries have recommendations of reads to start (or continue) you on your Reconciliation Journey
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Different organizations have offered up their recommended lists to Read for Reconciliation. Check these out, or if you have one you are already using, please share it with us so we can add it to the list
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CBC Indigenous have come up with 5 things you need to know. Check out their lists:
Indian Status: 5 more thing you need to know (Dispelling commonly held myths around First Nations and status cards)
5 things you might not know about Indigenous hunting and fishing rights (Hunting and fishing guaranteed under the constitution, but refined by court decisions)
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Read the works of Richard Van Camp, a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, Canada from Fort Smith, NWT. He is a graduate of the En’owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria’s Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.
Read MoreOmniglot is an online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages. Learn about the history of Indigenous languages and use its translation tools.
Cree Literacy Network promotes literacy in Cree language and culture.
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The Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative released Advancing Reconciliation in Canada: A Guide for Investors, outlines five tangible steps that institutional investors can take to make economic reconciliation an integrated part of their practice.
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The final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls has two-volumes, calls for transformative legal and social changes, and delivers 231 individual Calls for Justice. (MMIW)
Read the entire report, or the Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians.
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The above links will connect you with news, current events, business and culture from a uniquely Indigenous perspective about issues that are significant to Reconciliation. Click here to stay current!
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Learn about the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) by visiting this website that is specific to the process of the inquiry. Or dive into this important new title addressing issues around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Keetsahnak: Our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Sisters reveals “the tension between personal, political, and public action. . .as the contributors look at the roots of violence and how it diminishes life for all. Together, they create a model for anti-violence work from an Indigenous perspective.”
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Use graphic novels to introduce youth to history! Chester Brown, creator of the Louis Riel graphic novel, retells the history of the nineteenth-century Métis Rebellion lead by Prairie Métis Louis Riel. Get the graphic novel at Drawn and Quarterly.
Explore the history of Louis Riel in this video by the Cable Public Affairs Channel or this article in the Canadian Encyclopedia.
Read MoreMuskrat Magazine on Indigenous Poetry
CBC’s List of 5 Indigenous Poetry Collections
Saskatoon Indigenous Poets Society
Use these sources to connect with the outstanding voices in Canada’s poetry scene. Interested in spoken word poetry? Some prominent and inspiring voices include Tenille Campbell, Kevin Wesaquate, Zoey Pricelys Roy, and ecoaborijanelle.
Connect with us to recommend an Indigenous poet!
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The Tyee talks about Fatty Legs
The Education of Augie Merasty
CBC Book List of 15 Memoirs by Indigenous Writers
If autobiographies are your thing, here are a few titles that will get you started—including The Education of Augie Merasty, Richard Wagamese’s One Native Life, and The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew. These titles will educate and transform you.
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Saskatchewan School Boards Association Reconciliation Reading List
Reconciliation starts with education and there are many great titles that can help you dive deep into a learning process around Indigenous history, culture and residential schools. Whether fiction or non-fiction is your preference, you’ll find a range of titles on these must-read lists.
Read MoreEdmonton’s Rise Book Club
Saskatoon Public Library: Read for Reconciliation
Book clubs are a great way to share the path of Reconciliation with friends, family and community. There are many great formats and book lists to borrow from. All you need is a few members and start reading!
Read MoreCBC Gaming/Comic Book Guide for Parents
Comic books and graphic novels can be a great way to start the path towards Reconciliation—and there are many titles out there for kids and adults. Start with these lists to discover titles and authors!
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CBC Reading List for Young Readers
Use these lists as a source of great books, comics and stories for kids, youth and teens.
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“ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide is intended to provide individuals with a basic outline of Aboriginal protocol and governance systems in order to facilitate improved relationship building either as co-workers, through business opportunities or through inclusion in specific projects.”
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In 2015, the Wawahte book was made into an educational documentary that combines archival images with clips of Residential School survivors sharing their stories.
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