November is Native American Heritage Month!

The entire month of November is dedicated to the beauty, history, and preservation of Native American Heritage. So much of our culture originates from Native Americans- even a handful of our towns on Long Island are named after tribes! Take the time to celebrate and learn about Native American culture with these selected fiction titles. ​

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones: From New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones comes a novel that is equal parts psychological horror and cutting social commentary on identity politics and the American Indian experience. It follows the lives of four American Indian men and their families, all haunted by a disturbing, deadly event that took place in their youth. Years later, they find themselves tracked by an entity bent on revenge, totally helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.

There, There by Tommy Orange: A novel, which grapples with the complex history of Native Americans; with an inheritance of profound spirituality; and with a plague of addiction, abuse and suicide, follows 12 characters, each of whom has private reasons for traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow. 

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger: Fleeing the Depression-era school for Native American children who have been taken from their parents, four orphans share a life-changing journey marked by struggling farmers, faith healers, and lost souls. (Be sure to catch our virtual author visit with Krueger on Wednesday, November 10th at 7:00pm!)

The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich: A historical novel based on the life of the National Book Award-winning author’s grandfather traces the experiences of a Chippewa Council night watchman in mid-19th-century rural North Dakota who fights Congress to enforce Native American treaty rights.

Voice of The Turtle: American Indian Literature: Exploring such essential themes as transformation and change, an anthology of native American literature encompasses the works of seventeen authors, including E. Pauline Johnson, Charles A. Eastman, and N. Scott Momaday.

For more information on Native American Heritage Month, along with valuable resources, visit the official Native American Heritage Month website.

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