In honour of Indigenous History Month, our book list features Indigenous books for all ages that explore the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. These books share pieces of the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples and are perfect for caregivers, librarians and teachers to share with young readers.
Picture Books
Heart Berry Bling
Written by Jenny Kay Dupuis Illustrated by Eva Campbell HighWater Press, 2023
978-1-77492-055-8 IL:
Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 2-3
In this beautifully illustrated book, children learn about the tradition of Anishinaabe beadwork, strawberry teachings, and gender discrimination in the Indian Act.
Mnoomin maan'gowing / The Gift of Mnoomin
Written by Brittany Luby
Illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere Groundwood Books, 2023
978-1-77306-846-6 IL: Ages 3-6 RL: Grades 2-3
In this bilingual book, an Anishinaabe child explores the story of a precious mnoomin seed and the circle of life mnoomin sustains.
Runs with the Stars
Written by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O'ConnorIllustrated by Lenny Lishchenko Second Story Press, 2022
978-1-77260-238-8
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 2-3
As they await the birth of a new foal, a man teaches his grandchild about the Ojibwe Horses that used to roam the forests of northwestern Ontario.
The Secret Pocket
Written by Peggy JanickiIllustrated by Carrielynn Victor
Orca Book Publishers, 2023
978-1-4598-3372-2
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 2-3
The true story of how Indigenous girls at a residential school sewed secret pockets into their dresses to hide food and survive.
Junior & Intermediate Fiction
The Case of the Burgled Bundle (A Mighty Muskrats Mystery, Book 3)
Written by Michael Hutchinson Second Story Press, 2021978-1-77260-166-4
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
The National Assembly of Cree Peoples has gathered together in the Windy Lake First Nation, home to the Mighty Muskrats—cousins Chickadee, Atim, Otter, and Sam. But when the treaty bundle, the centre of a four-day-long ceremony, is taken, the four mystery-solving cousins set out to catch those responsible and help protect Windy Lake’s reputation!
(Adventures of the Pugulatmu’j, Book 1)
Written by Brandon Mitchell Illustrated by Veronika Barinova & Britt Wilson
HighWater Press, 2022
978-1-55379-947-4 IL: Ages 6-10 RL: Grades 1-3
When her hair clip disappears, Mali is devastated. It was special, made by her giju'. Her mom thinks she lost it, but Mali knows it was stolen by the pugulatmu’j. Soon after, Mali is surprised to meet Puug—and he’s wearing her hair clip. If she helps him find what he needs, she has a chance of getting it back. As they hunt for the objects on Puug’s list, Mali uncovers a lot of unanswered questions along the way.
Suliewey: The Sequel to My Indian
Written by Mi'sel Joe and Sheila O'Neill Breakwater Books, 2023 978-1-55081-988-5
IL: Ages 11-14 RL: Grades 7-8
In My Indian, Sylvester was hired by William Cormack in 1822 to guide him across Newfoundland in search of Beothuk encampments. In fact, he followed the advice of his Elders and guided Cormack away from the Beothuk. In this sequel, having parted ways with Cormack at St. George’s Bay, Sylvester decides to go out on his own in search of the winter camp of the last of the remaining Beothuk.
Weird Rules To Follow
Written by Kim Spencer
Orca Book Publishers, 2022
978-1-4598-3558-0
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
In the 1980s, the coastal fishing town of Prince Rupert is booming. There is plenty of sockeye salmon in the nearby ocean, which means the fishermen are happy and there is plenty of work at the cannery. Eleven-year-old Mia and her best friend, Lara, have known each other since kindergarten. Like most tweens, they like to hang out and compare notes on their crushes and dream about their futures. But even though they both live in the same cul-de-sac, Mia’s life is very different from her non-Indigenous, middle-class neighbour.
Young Adult Novels
Four Faces of the Moon
Written by Amanda StrongAnnick Press, 2021
978-1-77321-453-5
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
Spotted Fawn must travel through her own family history to confront the harsh realities of the past and reignite her connection to her people and the land. Her darkroom becomes a portal, allowing her glimpses into the lives of her relatives. Guided by her ancestors, Spotted Fawn’s travels through the past allow her to come into full face—like the moon itself.
A Girl Called Echo: Omnibus
Written by Katherena Vermette
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson
Coloured by Donovan Yaciuk
HighWater Press, 2023
978-1-77492-088-6
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 8-9
Métis teenager Echo Desjardins is struggling to adjust to a new school and a new home. When an ordinary history class turns extraordinary, Echo is pulled into a time-travelling adventure. Follow Echo as she experiences pivotal events from Métis history and imagines what the future might hold. This omnibus edition includes all four volumes in the A Girl Called Echo series.
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix (Remixed Classics)
Written by Cherie Dimaline
Square Fish, 2024
978-1-250-84265-7
IL: Ages 13 and up RL: Grades 7-8
Mary Lennox didn’t think about death until the day it knocked politely on her bedroom door and invited itself in. When a terrible accident leaves her orphaned at 15, she is sent to the wilderness of Georgian Bay to live with an uncle she's never met. This queer YA reimagining of The Secret Garden subverts the cishet and white status quo of the original in a tale of family secrets wonderful and horrifying.
This Place: 150 Years Retold
Edited by HighWater Press
Illustrated by various artists
HighWater Press, 2019
978-1-55379-758-6
IL: Ages 15 and up RL: Grades 9-10
Explore the past 150 years through the eyes of Indigenous creators in this groundbreaking graphic novel anthology. Beautifully illustrated, these stories are an emotional and enlightening journey through Indigenous wonderworks, psychic battles, and time travel. See how Indigenous peoples have survived a post-apocalyptic world since Contact.
Non-Fiction
Written by Melissa Mollen Dupuis
Illustrated by Elise Gravel
Translated by Gaëlle Mollen
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2023
978-1-0397-0180-9
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 2-3
In this immersive first-person account, Innu author Melissa Mollen Dupuis teams up with award-winning author and illustrator Elise Gravel to take readers on a journey through Innu culture, from creation legends to life today.
The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures
Written by Christian Allaire
Illustrated by Jacqueline Li
Annick Press, 2021
978-1-77321-490-0
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he sought out for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is working to change that—because clothes are never just clothes. Men’s heels are a statement of pride in the face of 2SLGTBQIA+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honour Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.
Sky Wolf's Call: The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge
Written by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
Annick Press, 2022
978-1-77321-630-0
IL: Ages 11 and up RL: Grades 6-7
In Sky Wolf’s Call, the award-winning author team of Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger reveal how Indigenous knowledge comes from centuries of practices, experiences, and ideas gathered by people who have a long history with the natural world. Indigenous knowledge is explored through the use of fire and water, the acquisition of food, the study of astronomy, and healing practices.
Written by Carey Newman and Kirstie Hudson
Orca Book Publishers, 2022
978-1-4598-3612-9
IL: Ages 9 and up RL: Grades 5-6
Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art—a collection of hundreds of objects from those schools. It includes everything from photos, bricks, hockey skates, graduation certificates, dolls and piano keys to braids of hair. Behind every piece is a story. And behind every story is a residential school Survivor, including Carey's father. This book is a collection of truths about what happened at those schools, but it's also a beacon of hope and a step on the journey toward reconciliation.