Native American Nonfiction
National Native American Heritage Month, observed in November, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions – historical and ongoing – of American Indians and Alaska Natives. This list was created by a librarian at The Seattle Public Library; annotations by staff, or as cited. (Created October 2025)
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In Light and Shadow
A landmark photography collection featuring work exclusively by Indigenous American artists that tells stories of Indigenous history through the eyes of their own people and sheds new light on the understanding of Indigenous America. With profiles of 80 photographers and more than 250 photographs, this unique book brings to light the canon of Indigenous American photography that has been developing on its own terms for decades. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: On order
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The Rediscovery of America
Blackhawk (Western Shoshone) recenters the often-overlooked role of Native American communities and individuals in five centuries of American history through this sweeping study.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Living Resistance
(Potawatomi Nation) "In this motivating entry, poet Curtice encourages readers to fight against racism, patriarchy, and gender discrimination to make a more "whole" world, and to make doing so a lifelong commitment. To that end, she outlines four "realms" of resistance: personal (turning inward and asking questions); communal (making changes on a social level); ancestral (investigating one's roots and others'); and integral (resistance that involves all parts of the self)." (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Indigenous Firsts
Dennis (Cherokee/Sand Hill/Syrian) and Molin (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from White Earth) "offer an impeccably documented and inspirational survey of the groundbreaking accomplishments and achievements of Indigenous peoples. Organized into 14 chapters, this book focuses on U.S. (including Native Hawaiian) and Canadian First Nations individuals, communities, and groups across a wide range of fields - art, business, government, health, literature, media, military, religion, science, urban life, and sports." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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The Sky Was Once A Dark Blanket
Drake's excellent debut, winner of the 2023 National Poetry Series Award, enlivens and expands the traditions of Navajo poetry with arresting imagery, pop culture references, and queer touchstones (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Chito Harjo
[Historian Fixico (Shawnee, Sac and Fox, Muscogee Creek and Seminole) recounts] the life of a Mvskoke (Muskogee/Creek) leader who fought against white predations on his people’s reservation. A strong contribution to the literature of Indigenous resistance. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Future Imaginaries
The growing field of Indigenous Futurism eludes easy categorization, as suggested by this lavishly illustrated wide-ranging collection of essays and artworks from scholars, curators, and some of the field's most prominent artists. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Birds Through Indigenous Eyes
"This book that explores Indigenous beliefs about the birds of the Northeastern United States is the result of a collaboration among anthropologist Gaffin healer/naturalist Michael Bastine, of Algonquin descent and a member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation of western Quebec; and naturalist/animal rehabilitator John Volpe, of Ojibwe and Métis descent and a member of the Nipissing First Nation of Ontario. This engaging work of ethno-ornithology is a must for bird watchers and readers who want to form a more profound relationship with nature." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Kuleana
Journalist Goo writes about her family's journey to keep their ancestral Hawaiian lands in the face of massive increases in property taxes. She traces the colonial history of the islands alongside her own efforts to reconnect with her past. (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Girl Warrior
Poet Laureate Harjo (Muscogee Creek) addresses young Native girls in her latest melding of memoir and guidance, prose and poetry. Drawing on the challenges of her own life, she counsels readers who may be facing sadness, anger, grief, or despair. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: On order
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