The month of November is designated as National Native American Heritage Month. We honor the rich and diverse traditions of Native groups and recognize their significant contributions to the history, culture, and growth of our country. While it is important to acknowledge their accomplishments, it is also equally important to raise awareness about the unique challenges they have faced and continue to face. One way that Native Americans have voiced their experiences and disparities is through writing and film.
The following book and film titles shed light on the struggles, activism, and heritage of this group.
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
PS3569.I44 C4 2006, Main – 2nd Floor
Ceremony explores the sentiments of a Native American man who returns to his reservation after being a prisoner of war during World War II. The young veteran turns to the ancient stories and rituals of his people for comfort, instead of falling into an alcoholism trap.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
PS3551.L35774 A27 2009, Juvenile
The plot of this narrative follows the experiences of a teenager who leaves his high school on his reservation to attend an all-white school out in town. Alexie uses humor to shed light on the harsh reality the main character faces when he realizes that the only other Native American in his high school is the school mascot.
House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
PZ4 .M73 Ho 1999, Main – 2nd Floor
N.Scott Momaday is one of the most celebrated Native American authors of the century. In his novel, House Made of Dawn, Momaday voices the life of a young Native American man who is living in two worlds – the first world encompasses the ancient rites and traditions of his tribe while the second world is modern and industrial America.
The Turquoise Ledge by Leslie Marmon Silko
PS3569.I44 Z46 2010, Main – 2nd Floor
In her memoir, Leslie Marmon Silko takes readers through the landscape of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona while weaving in her reflections of her family’s past.
In Mad Love and War by Joy Harjo
PS3558.A62423 I6 1990, Main – 2nd Floor
Joy Harjo became the first Native American to be named Poet Laureate in 2019. In Mad Love and War is a collection of poems recounting Harjo’s experiences as a Native American woman living in contemporary America culture.
Kanopy Film Selections:
Choctaw Code Talkers (2010) – 56 mins
Choctaw Code Talkers narrates how Choctaw members pioneered the use of Native American languages as military code during World War I.
Language Healers (2014) – 41 mins
Language Healers is a documentary that focuses on the importance of saving Native American languages and tells the story of Native Americans who are fighting against language loss.
Earth Speaks: Native Americans Speak about the Earth (2015) – 12 mins
Earth Speaks is a short documentary that speaks about the exploitation of Native lands and the impact that oil and gas drilling has had on Native American tribal lands.
More Than a Word (2017) – 70 mins
Through interviews with scholars, tribal leaders, and activists this documentary explores the use of Native American-based mascots and the negative stereotypes they perpetuate. This film also analyzes the issues surrounding the NFL team, formerly known as the Washington Redskins.
This compilation is only a small sample of the great Native American Authors that there are and a few stories that Native American groups have voiced. I challenge you to learn more about their culture not just this month, but every month of the year.
