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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A Muckleshoot Poetry Anthology
"Fifty-four poets - most from the Muckleshoot Tribal School - created works for this collection. Their writing highlights Muckleshoot history and culture while also spotlighting individual histories, lessons, and beliefs." (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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My Life
"A collection of twenty essays, poems, and other works that capture and celebrate modern Native American experiences, highlighting the depth and complexity of Native American identity, resiliency, and joy." (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Thinning Blood
As the last person in her family who qualifies as a member of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Myers weaves the stories of four generations of women in her family with folklore and history.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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By the Fire We Carry
"A Cherokee journalist unpacks the landmark 2020 Supreme Court case that recognized the eastern half of the state of Oklahoma as Indian country. Gripping, infuriating, and illuminating - a valuable corrective to our national ignorance." (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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We Survived the Night
Activist, journalist, and maker of the Oscar-nominated documentary Sugarcane, Noisecat now offers his first book, a kaleidoscopic exploration of identity, family, community, and the rich cultures of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States. Every tale, whether myth or history, is imbued with a beautiful honesty that will surely move readers. (Library Journal) NoiseCat is a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq'escen and a descendant of the Lil'Wat Nation of Mount Currie.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Our Way--a Parallel History
"This expansive compendium seeks to correct the stereotypes, false information, and missing history of Indigenous peoples that have defined the origin stories America tells about itself. Cajune, a longtime educator and citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, prioritizes "stories of people and place rather than dates and events, providing a glimpse into the very human side of history."" (Booklist)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Blood Wolf Moon
In this riveting sixth poetry collection, Paschen explores the story lines of her Osage heritage. Paschen searches her cultural past and family history in poems about the land, ancestors, childhood, loss, nature, transformation, flight and language. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Anishinaabe Songs for A New Millennium
"Poem-songs summon the voices of Anishinaabe ancestors and sing to future generations. The ancestors that walk with us, sing us our song. When we get quiet enough, we can hear them sing and make them audible to people today. In Anishinaabe Songs for a New Millennium, Marcie R. Rendon, a member of the White Earth Nation, summons those ancestors' songs, and so begins the dream singing for generations yet to come." (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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The Worst Trickster Story Ever Told
Indigenous Peoples and Policy Program director Richotte (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) Indian Law and Policy) presents an astute, irreverent analysis of the U.S. government's claim to complete lawmaking authority over Indigenous communities. (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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The Indian Card
Schuettpelz (Lumbee) "writes about what it means for Indigenous people to prove their identity, as they are often forced by governments to validate who they are. Schuettpelz considers the shifting meaning and history of Indigenous identity from before colonization to the latest census." (Library Journal)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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