MNW | Integrating Native/Indigenous Authored Children's Books Into Your Classroom

There has been an explosion of Native/Indigenous authored picture books, middle grade and young adult books in the last decade touching on the lived experiences of Native peoples today. Children’s books are an equitable pathway toward understanding the truth about how the United States was colonized and how the displacement of Native Nations has turned into lived experiences for Native Nations today. Understanding the lived experiences of the over 574 federally recognized Native Nations is a step toward healing the persistent inequities that Native people, People of the Global Majority, people who are financially under resourced and Mother Earth continue to experience.

Young Native Children continue to experience the effects of colonization, and it is essential to be thoughtful about including Native authored literature in the curriculum for all children in developmentally appropriate ways. Using Native authored children’s books supports the continued reclamation by Native peoples of their languages, cultures, and Indigenous knowledge systems that Native, Non-Native children and planet earth will benefit from. This workshop will provide book lists, Native authored book recommendations, lessons, and materials to implement in one’s classroom.