14 books to read for Indigenous History Month

June is Indigenous History Month and Indigenous Book Club Month. Here are 14 books to check out.

This Place byKateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell, et al.

This Placeis an anthology of comics featuring the work of Indigenous creatorsas theyretellthe history of Canada of the past 150 years. Elements of fantasy and magical realism are incorporated throughout the book, tellingthe stories of characters like Jack Fiddler,an Anishinaabe shaman facing murder charges, and Rosie,an Inuk girl growing up during the Second World War. Contributors includeKateriAkiwenzie-Damm, Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley,David A. Robertson,Richard Van Camp,Katherena Vermette and Chelsea Vowel.

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

Alicia Elliottexplores the systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples across Canada through the lens of her own experiences as a Tuscarora writer from Six Nations of the Grand River.Elliottexamines how colonial violence, including the loss of language, seeps into the present day lives of Indigenous people, often in the form of mental illness.Elliott, who lives in Brantford, Ont., won gold at theNational Magazine Awards in 2017 for the essay this book is based on.

• Why Alicia Elliott challenges us all to think critically about trauma, oppression and racism in Canada

Clifford by Harold R. Johnson

InClifford, Governor General's Literary Award-nominated writerHarold R. Johnsonrecounts the life of his beloved brother, who is deceased. The two brothers were raised in northern Saskatchewan by their father, a quiet man of Swedish descent, and mother, a formidable Cree trapper. This memoir imagines Clifford following his curiosity for the universe into science.

• Harold R. Johnson honours the memory of his brother Clifford with new genre-bending memoir

The Unexpected Cop by Ernie Louttit

Ernie Louttit is a bestselling author, veteran and retired police officer from Saskatoon. Louttit was one of the first Indigenous police officers hired by the Saskatoon Police and has written about his experiences within the force inThe Unexpected Cop.The Unexpected Coptakes on leadership how being a leader means sticking to your convictions and sometimes standing up to the powers that be.

• Ernie Louttit reflects on leadership and life as an Indigenous police officer

Hope Matters by Lee Maracle, Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter

This collection of poetry fromaward-winning authorLeeMaracleand her daughtersColumpaBobbandTaniaCarter is a look atthe journey of Indigenous people from colonial beginnings to reconciliation. The collaborative effort documents the personal mother-daughter connection and also the shared song ofhope and reconciliation from all Indigenous communities and perspectives.

• Lee Maracle stormed CanLit stages to make sure her story was heard

Mamaskatch by Darrel J. McLeod

Darrel J.McLeod'sMamaskatchis a memoir of his upbringing in Alberta raised by his fierce Cree mother, Bertha.McLeoddescribes vivid memories of moose stew and wild peppermint tea, surrounded by siblings and cousins. From his mother,McLeodlearned to be proud of his heritage and also shares her fractured stories from surviving the residential school system.

Mamaskatchwonthe 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for nonfiction.

• How writing about his traumatic childhood helped Darrel J. McLeod heal and help others in the process

Legacy by Suzanne Methot

Nehiyaw writer Suzanne Methot traces her own roots to better understand how colonial trauma is passed down from generation to generation. In doing so, she investigates why Indigenous peoples suffer from disproportionately higher rates of addiction, depression, diabetes and other chronic health conditions compared to other groups. She also looks into Indigenous ways of knowing and how it can stem the flow of intergenerational trauma.

• Grief and compassion spring from author's exploration of intergenerational trauma

ntisnak by Lindsay Nixon

Drawing from their Cree, Saulteaux and Mtis heritage, Lindsay Nixon explores the profound loss of their mother in this memoir. Medicine and heartbreak are found in equal measure throughout this narrative, which tells stories of community, family and love.

Lindsay Nixonwonthe 2019Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ emerging writers.

• These Indigenous artists are taking back the self-love that colonialism stole

Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

A northern Anishinaabecommunity loses power just as winter arrives, burying roads and creating panicas the food supply slowly runs out. Newcomers begin to arrive on the reserve, escaping a nearby crisis,and tension builds as disease begins taking lives. A small group turns to the land and Anishinaabetraditionto start rebuilding and restoringharmony.Rice is also the host of the CBC Radio showUp North.

• Why Waubgeshig Rice wrote a dystopian novel about the collapse of society from an Indigenous perspective

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

Combining memoir with fiction,Tanya Tagaqwrites about a young girl's coming of age in 1970s Nunavut. She is a witness to the mythic wonders of the Arctic world, which juxtapose harshly against the violence and alcoholism in her community.Split Toothis the first book byTagaq, aPolaris Prize and Juno Award-winning Inuksinger.

Split Toothwasonthe longlist for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize, the shortlist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award and won the Indigenous Voices Award for English-language fiction.

• Why Tanya Tagaq is 'terrified' anyone will read her acclaimed debut novel,Split Tooth

Disintegrate/Dissociateby Arielle Twist

ArielleTwist is aCree, Two-Spirit poet and educator based in the East Coast. Twist's debut poetry collection,Disintegrate/Dissociate,offers perspectives of human connections after death looking at anger, grief, trauma and displacement left in its wake.Disintegrate/Dissociatedepicts life for anIndigenoustranswoman, one dreaming for a hopeful future and a clear path for self-discovery.

• The Indigenous renaissance was truly here in 2018 and it's not going anywhere

Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp

Moccasin Square Gardensis a collection of humorous short fiction set in Denendeh, the land of the people north of the 60th parallel.Richard Van Camp's stories involve extraterrestrials, illegal wrestling moves and the legendary Wheetago, human-eating monsters who have come to punish the greed of humanity.Van Campis a prolific novelist, comic writer and children's book writer whose work includesThe Lesser Blessed,A Blanket of ButterfliesandLittle You.

• Richard Van Camp on highlighting the humour and hope within Indigenous communities

river woman by Katherena Vermette

The author of the novelThe Breakand the Governor General's Literary Award-winning poetry collectionNorth End Love Songsreturns to poetry withriver woman.river womanexplores colonialism and the multigenerational trauma and loss it inflicted. It also explores the relationship between reclamation, love, nature and healing.

• Katherena Vermette on why quiet stories speak the loudest

Starlight by Richard Wagamese

Starlightis the final novel of beloved Indigenous writerRichard Wagamese. The novel was not completed beforeWagamesedied in 2017, andincludes a note from the publisher.Set in 1980 in the interior of B.C.,Starlightis about an Indigenous farmer namedFrank Starlightwhose quiet life is dramatically changed by the frantic arrival of a woman named Emmy and her young child. Emmy and her child have escaped an abusive homeand end up forming a bond with Frank.

• Richard Wagamese on why Canada needs more Indigenous writers