For more than 200 years, individuals from outside tribal communities have shaped and influenced Native literatures. First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) firmly believes that it is time for citizens of sovereign tribal nations to define and articulate their own literary traditions. Read on to learn about #NativeReads: Great Books from Indigenous Communities, an uplifting narrative-change initiative from First Nations.

Celebrating Indigenous writers from a specific tribe or region, First Nations is honored to partner with a group of Oceti Sakowin writers (Dakota, Lakota and Nakota) from the Oak Lake Writers’ Society. First Nations has collaborated on a publication called Stories of the Oceti Sakowin, which includes 10 recommended books. The four-page storykeeping timeline created by the Oak Lake Writers’ Society takes the reader on a journey to better understand early and contemporary Dakota, Lakota and Nakota people and communities. 

For the next several weeks First Nations will share more about each of the 10 selected books, the selection process and more.

Please visit www.firstnations.org/NativeReadsto view all the 2020 #NativeReads: Great Books from Indigenous Communities materials. 

Also included in the publication are suggestions on how you can take steps to illuminate voices from Native communities — a call to action. First Nations hopes you accept the challenge by taking part in one or more of our ways to make a difference.

This week First Nations is pleased to present the first 2020 featured book: 

Our History is the Future: Standing Rock versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance by Nick Estes. 

This award-winning book recounts 10 months of Indigenous resistance at Standing Rock. In 2016, hundreds of tribal nations, led by the Oceti Sakowin, came together in solidarity to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline and hundreds of years of injustice against Indigenous people and communities. You can view the author interview hereand the book discussion guide here.  

Nick Estes will also post a short story with discussion questions that parents, families, educators and others can download for free.

Initiatives like this, which build awareness and broaden education, make a significant difference in breaking down stereotypes. They reshape collaborations and build bridges of understanding in the world today. And they are vital to our ability to ensure the economic, spiritual and cultural well-being of Native communities today and for generations to come.