4 - Read books by Indigenous authors
This series of blog posts is inspired by the list 21 Things You Can Do to Change the World created by Bob Joseph in his book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. Focusing on actionable steps, these blog posts will take each step and provide links, contacts, and suggestion lists.
View all of our 21 Things posts here.
The fourth Action we chose to highlight is Read books by Indigenous authors
What’s on your summer reading list? Reading books written by Indigenous authors is an amazing way to support and amplify Indigenous voices, learn about issue and other perspectives, and be entertained by the sheer amount of talent out there.
Looking for recommendations for children’s books? See our last post here.
Where do you buy your books? Iron Dog Books and Massy Books are two independent bookstores in Vancouver that are Indigenous-owned and operated. If you like to buy your books online, Strong Nations has a good selection and publishes books by Indigenous authors. Inhabit Media is an Inuit-owned independent publishing company. Another amazing resource is Raven Reads, which is an Indigenous book and giftware subscription box. Lastly, Coastal Bookstore is not Indigenous-owned, but they make the list for being local to Coquitlam and committed to representing diverse voices and local artists.
We have linked to a few reading lists to inspire you.
Calgary Public Library – Indigenous Reading List: Truth and Reconciliation
CBC – 35 Books to Read for National Indigenous History Month
Raven Reads – Romance-Themed Books by Indigenous Authors
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada – #IndigenousReads reading list: Poetry
Inhabit Media – Book List
Lastly, here is where you can find books by Bob Joseph, who inspired this series (we HIGHLY recommend 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act)
These blog posts are designed to be a starting point to help people toward the path of reconciliation and allyship. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and research. Want to learn more? Check out the Indigenous Relations Academy, which has books, training, and resources. You can also purchase 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act here.