April 1, 2024
Gr 6-9-This noteworthy series sheds light on the often-overlooked history of Indigenous North Americans. With heartbreaking clarity, it unveils troubling post-colonization moments, such as the impact of Indian boarding schools aiming to eradicate Indigenous cultures in favor of a European, Christian lifestyle. The author, a member of the Oneida Nation, exposes a litany of historical horrors, including the struggles for citizenship, broken treaties, and the Indian Removal Act. Amid this unsettling history, readers discover the influential role of Native cooperative government in shaping the U.S. Constitution, celebrate Native American war heroes, and explore community involvement in modern politics. Despite delving into the darker aspects of history, the series is ultimately a testament to resilience. VERDICT A long overdue series.
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2024
Grades 4-8 The Racial Justice in America: Indigenous Peoples series (8 titles) introduces aspects of initiatives aiming to rectify ingrained discriminatory practices. This offering concentrates on the relatively new Land Back movement, an effort officially launched in 2020 when the NDN Collective (a grassroots, Indigenous-rights organization) published a land reclamation manifesto with 13 organizing principles. Opening chapters document how land and sacred sites have been usurped and repurposed over past centuries, uprooting Native peoples and destroying their ways of life and culture. The accessible narrative fills in historical, political, legal, and social background, supported by numerous archival photographs, reproductions, and side bars. The final chapter reiterates the four main goals of the Land Back movement and documents current Indigenous rights activism. This is a solid introduction to an important contemporary issue.
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