2020 Indigenous Reads Challenge - Commentary

[❀ Susan]

Thanks to Story❤ who has suggested and inspired a new CanadianContent yearlong challenge for 2020. We have run the cross-Canada challenge for a few years and are going to take a break and challenge everyone to read more indigenous reads.

The plan is to read 10 books from the following list (I will set up a separate thread for completion plans). I am sure that this challenge will not only teach us all some things but will also inspire some great discussions, support some amazing authors... and add to our TBR piles!

Choose 10 of the following:

1. an book written by an indigenous author from a province you do not live in
2. a book focusing on taking care of mother earth with indigenous teachings
3. an indigenous play
4. indigenous graphic novel
5. a collection of short stories
6. an indigenous story told by a strong female voice
7. a book written by an indigenous author in another country
8. a book written by a local indigenous author or about an indigenous individual living close to you
9. truth and reconciliation recommendations
10. read 21 Things You Might not know about the Indian act by Bob Joseph
11. a book by or about an indigenous artist
12. a book by a indigenous individual who is no longer living
13. an indigenous book that has won awards
14. a book of indigenous poetry or art
15. a children's story
16. a memoir
17. another book by an indigenous author that might not fit the categories above

[Story]

Thanks for this, Susan!

Here are some lists if anyone needs some inspiration:

CBC's 108 Indigenous writers to read
https://www.cbc.ca/books/108-indigeno...

Indigenous authors recommend books all Canadians should read
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/h...

1200+ books in VPL's Indigenous Collection:
https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/sear...

[❀ Susan]

Wow! we certainly won't have any trouble finding books for this challenge. Thanks Story❤ !

[Rainey]

FYI

the number 4 is repeated twice - should be 16 in total not 15

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

This is a great challenge! I may try to knock some off the list, but don't think I'll get them all.

[Story]

@ ❀ Susan, could we add "16. Other " to the list? I just found an interesting cookbook: Modern Native Feasts: Healthy, Innovative, Sustainable Cuisine

[❀ Susan]

absolutely - i will fix up the numbering (thank Rainey) and add Other!!

I just got my copy of 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality from the library so am ready to start reading it tomorrow!!

[Story]

Thanks!

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

Can I use prompt #8 to finally read River Thieves by Michael Crummey? It's about the now extinct Beothuk, Newfoundland's indigenous people.

[❀ Susan]

Absolutely! I look forward to hearing more about that book!

[Sarah]

I’m in! Thanks For this motivation ladies. I hope to finish this challenge. Thanks for the links Story❤️

[Heather(Gibby)]

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "Can I use prompt #8 to finally read River Thieves by Michael Crummey? It's about the now extinct Beothuk, Newfoundland's indigenous people."

That was such a fantastic book!

[❀ Susan]

I just finished From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way and it will stick with me for a long time. it is hard to believe that anyone could come back from a lifestyle of such hardship, homelessness and addiction! what an amazing recovery leading to a university degree and a published book!

[[deleted user]]

I can imagine this is an inspiring story. Thanks for the link. I will look at it.

[Wanda]

I read the play, This Is How We Got Here tonight- and recommend this to the group. An emotional play regarding a young man's suicide and the impact on his loved ones. I wish I could see this performed in it's play format, would give it that much more depth. Although I could picture the action and feel the raw emotion as I was reading along. I hope to read more by Keith Barker who I believe is from Northern Ontario.

[Story]

11 of the Most Anticipated Books by Indigenous Authors For the First Half of 2020

https://bookmarks.reviews/11-of-the-m...

[❀ Susan]

Thanks Storyheart! Nice to see books that I have read by Richard Wagamese and Cherie Dimaline in the list (which are both excellent I may add).

[Story]

I finished In This Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth and Reconciliation and found it very powerful. My review is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[❀ Susan]

Here are some other reading options for this challenge - https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapt...

[❀ Susan]

an article on # 10 https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapt...

[Story]

Thanks for posting, Susan. That was interesting. I'm still slowly reading the book.

[Sarah]

In the last few days I’ve finished From the Ashes on audio and Halfbreed by Maria Campbell. Halfbreed was so powerfully devastating, many tears were shed. I am just about to start For Joshua by Richard Wagamese.

[Story]

I've now finished:
Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
Modern Native Feasts: Healthy, Innovative, Sustainable Cuisine
21 Things You Might not know about the Indian Act

[Joanna G]

Oooh, I am very excited about this! Will definitely partake. So far this year I've read From the Ashes, The Lesser Blessed and Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club for authors who are indigenous. I may slot those in to categories they fit and then see what I can find for the others.

[Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺]

I completely overlooked Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club when planning for this challenge, but I believe Megan Gail Coles is of Mi’kmaq descent. Thanks for the reminder @Joanna!

[Joanna G]

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "I completely overlooked Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club when planning for this challenge, but I believe Megan Gail Coles is of Mi’kmaq descent. Than..."

No problem! Yes, that's my understanding too, based on her bio in the book.

[Story]

Lithub has an excerpt today from from For Joshua : An Ojibway Father Teaches His Son by Richard Wagamese

https://lithub.com/richard-wagamese-o...

[Kathleen]

Thank you for sharing the link, Story. I now know that I want to read the rest of the book.

[Story]

Me too, Kathleen.

[❀ Susan]

For Joshua is an amazing book... like all of his!!!

[Sarah]

@story❤️ thanks for the link!

[Story]

My pleasure, Sarah.

[Krista]

I’m currently reading Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga. It’s absolutely heartbreaking

[Sarah]

I am very close to completing this challenge! That was unexpected. Turns out all the books I borrowed from the library came in very quickly. I am listening to 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph. A 3.5 hr audio and I’m 30 mins in. Very good so far, I’m learning tonnes!

[Sarah]

@Krista agreed, what a heartbreaking collection Tanya has created. Very well written.

[Wanda]

Sarah wrote: "I am very close to completing this challenge! That was unexpected. Turns out all the books I borrowed from the library came in very quickly. I am listening to 21 Things You May Not Know About the I..."

Wow Sarah- I am impressed! Well done!

[Wanda]

I am currently reading The North-West Is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel's People, the Metis Nation and gaining so much insight into the truth of the history of the Metis nation. The education I received in my younger years was insufficient and heavily influenced and biased by my European settler ancestors. This is an awakening for me.

And just received an audio loan of Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. I expect this to be tough content.

[Krista]

Ooh I just got the last two tickets for Tanya Talaga coming to Branford in March!

[Kathleen]

That's great Krista! Please share your highlights afterwards.

[❀ Susan]

@Krista - I will be there also!

[Story]

For anyone who might be interested: the BC Ministry of Education just published this pdf of Indigenous resources, some of which might be interesting for those of us doing the challenge:

https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/cu...

[Sarah]

@Wanda thanks! Looks like I’ve completed 9/10 on the list. One left to go but I’m actually going to read 12 from the list. The last one read was Bob Jospeh’s 21 Things You Might Not Know About the Indian Act. Listened to on audio while doing my daily treadmill run. So much I learned!! My last 3 On my list are Fatty Legs (#16), Son of a Trickster (#1), and A Mind Spread Out on the Ground (#5).

@Story❤️ thanks! I’ll take a look at that link.

[Kathleen]

Story thanks for the link. I just browsed it tonight, and found it very interesting. There are sections that I want to read more in depth. 💕

[❀ Susan]

Wow! Great job Sarah!

Thanks for the link too, Storyheart.

[Story]

Indigenous authors celebrated as readership skyrockets across Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...

[Story]

Curl up with 3 Indigenous book recommendations from author Richard Van Camp

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/u...

[Kathleen]

Storyheart, thank you for these links. Once again, you have helped my TBR to grow. 💕

[Story]

My pleasure!

[Sarah]

I’ve completed the challenge!! I will be sure to write out my completion plans tomorrow. What a great idea for this challenge @Story❤️. I learnt so much! I’d love to do it again next year.

[❀ Susan]

Wow!! That was quick!