KPL Kids would like to thank David A. Robertson for guest writing this blog post on the importance of teaching Indigenous history and reading Indigenous stories at home. David is an award-winning Cree author from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is the author of numerous books including When We Were Alone, The Reckoner, The Barren Grounds, On the Trapline, Back Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory. A recommended reading list follows David’s message for parents, teachers and the entire library community.
Now, more than ever, it’s vitally important to read Indigenous stories that have been told by Indigenous creators. Own voices stories. Whereas in the past, these stories seemed to be few and far between, told by a handful of artists, those same artists opened doors so that today, writers like me have a platform to share our truths. What this means is that there is no excuse not to fully understand the past and present of this place that we call Canada. And we need to know if we are truly in the business of reconciliation because there is no reconciliation without truth.
To be clear, residential school history, for example, is not Indigenous history. It is not even Canadian history, because we as Indigenous people are still working to heal from the impacts of that trauma. It is Canada now. Today. If you live within these borders, reconciliation is a shared responsibility. As such, we all need to figure out what role we can play. Meaningful action requires thoughtful reflection. I can’t tell you what that role is, but I do know that if you are a parent or a teacher, you have a responsibility to ensure youth have access to stories that will give them the knowledge that we didn’t have so that they can be better leaders, both today and tomorrow, so that the systems in this country no longer break people down, but support people in the way that they should, and do so equitably.
How do we do this? It starts with you. Educate yourself by reading, and listening, to stories that are being told by Indigenous artists, so that you can, in turn, educate your kids. Why learn first, when you can just read the words in a picture book or a novel? Well, because it’s not enough to just read words, you have to be able to field questions, and just like own voices stories are written from a place of truth, answers need to come from that same place. You also have to know that words, stories, are not enough. Words need to become actions that will, in the long-term, create meaningful, lasting change. Youth are inherently better positioned than anybody to create the sort of change we need to see. Stories reveal the world to youth—the world that was, the world that is, and the world that will be. What kind of future do you want to have, and how are we going to get there together, as a community?
Recommended Books for Children and Youth about Residential Schools
These books are all available to borrow from Kitchener Public Library with a library card. If you live in the Region of Waterloo you can get a free digital card from KPL. You can access our #215children book list of selected books about residential schools for children, youth and adults on our catalogue.
Picture Books for Younger Children
- Shin-chi’s Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim La Fave
- Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell ; pictures by Kim La Fave
- Stolen Words by Melanie Florence ; illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
- available in English and Plains Cree
- The Train by Jodie Callaghan; illustrated by Georgia Lesley
- When I was Eight & Not My Girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton ; art by Gabrielle Grimard
- When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
Books for Older Children and Teens
- As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie, with Constance Brissenden ; illustrations by Heather D. Holmlund
- Dear Canada, These are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens by Ruby Slipperjack
- Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton ; artwork by Liz Amini-Holmes
- I am not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer ; illustrated by Gillian Newland
- Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith
- Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David A. Robertson ; [illustrated by] Scott B. Henderson
- The Orange Shirt Story & Phyllis’s Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad, illustrated by Brock Nicol
Take it Further
Do you want to learn more about Indigenous history or discover more books by Indigenous authors? The library has strong non-fiction and Indigenous picture book collections for children and youths of all ages. Request a Billie’s Book Pick surprise bag or an Educator Kit and we’ll hand-pick a selection of books for you to check out. If you’re looking for adult books and resources, request a DiscoveREAD kit and check out the adult books in the library’s #215children book list.