Books for National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. A day to explore the history and cultures of the indigenous peoples of this land, to join in celebrations and memorials.

You may be interested in my quick summary of Indigenous Peoples in and Around Calgary.

And what observance would be complete without books? there is more and more call to write books with diverse characters from all walks of life. Different races and backgrounds, disabilities, neurodiversity, and more.

Because this is Indigenous Peoples Day and I am not of an indigenous background, I will flip my usual blog format and put #ownvoices first, with my books at the bottom.

I have read a couple of books about indigenous experiences the last few months. I have written about A Stranger at Home and From the Ashes in my regular Teaser Tuesday blogs.

A Stranger at Home

Traveling to be reunited with her family in the arctic, 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak can hardly contain her excitement. It’s been two years since her parents delivered her to the school run by the dark-cloaked nuns and brothers.

Coming ashore, Margaret spots her family, but her mother barely recognizes her, screaming, “Not my girl.” Margaret realizes she is now marked as an outsider. And…