Reading is well-known to have a multitude of positive health impacts. This Native American History Month and beyond, give your cognitive health and bookshelf some love with the following titles by Indigenous authors and collaborators.
I. The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well by Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins
Cover of “The Seven Circles”
Luger and Collins offer a transformative guide to wellness rooted in Indigenous ancestral knowledge. Through the Seven Circles model that spans food, movement, sleep, ceremony, sacred space, land, and community, they weave personal stories with practical advice to uplift self-care through cultural reclamation.
II. Mihko Kiskisiwin – Blood Memory: An Indigenous Poets Society Anthology
Cover of “Blood Memory: An Indigenous Poets Society Anthology”
This anthology amplifies diverse Indigenous voices through poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. From incarcerated writers to 2SLGBTQ+ storytellers, each piece offers testimony to trauma and healing. Centered on the Cree concept of “blood memory,” it calls for cultural resurgence and interrelated respect. A revolutionary act of remembrance, this collection carves space for voices often silenced.
III. Gu’ahia Taíno (We Speak Taíno) by Roberto Múkaro Agueibaná Borrero
Book Cover of “Gu’ahia Taíno We Speak Taíno”
This landmark work remembers the classic Taíno language through a comprehensive dictionary and grammar guide, spearheaded by Taino Indigenous leaders. Rooted in nearly a decade of collaboration, it embodies cultural resilience and linguistic sovereignty. Gu’ahia Taíno not only preserves a vital ancestral language but invites readers to engage with a living testament to Indigenous identity and pride.
IV. When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, and Leadership in the Timeplace of Collapse by Rōshi Norma Wong
Book Cover of “When No Thing Works: A Zen and Indigenous Perspective on Resilience, Shared Purpose, … [+]
With poetic wisdom, Rōshi Norma Wong bridges Zen philosophy and Indigenous Hawaiian teachings to reimagine resilience in our collapsing world. Her reflections guide readers to transcend crisis by grounding themselves in shared purpose and interconnected grace. This meditative journey invites us to hold space for hope while honoring the gravity of our present moment.
V. From the Ashes: My Story of Being Indigenous, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle
Cover of “From The Ashes”
Jesse Thistle’s gripping memoir recounts his journey through homelessness to reclaim his identity and culture. Told with vulnerability and raw honesty, his story is one of resilience and the healing power of love and connection to Indigenous community.
VI. Native Presence and Sovereignty in College: Sustaining Indigenous Weapons to Defeat Systemic Monsters by Amanda Tachine
Cover of “Native Presence and Sovereignty in College”
Amanda Tachine unearths the systemic barriers facing Indigenous students in higher education and celebrates the “weapons” they use to overcome them. Following the journeys of ten Navajo teens, she highlights how love and community help Indigenous students navigate harmful campus environments. This book is a powerful call to transform educational spaces while honoring Native resilience and presence.
VII. Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star Jesse Ed Davis by Douglas K. Miller
Cover of “Washita Love Child”
With a foreword by the one and only Joy Harjo, this richly detailed biography restores Jesse Ed Davis, a groundbreaking Kiowa-Comanche guitarist, to his rightful place in rock history. From collaborating with legends like John Lennon to redefining what Indigenous artistry could mean, Davis’s story is one of musical genius and cultural defiance. With insights from family and peers, it’s a love letter to his legacy and the possibilities he unlocked for Native artists.
VIII. Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future by Patty Krawec
Cover of “Becoming Kin”
Patty Krawec invites readers to “unforget” colonial histories and reimagine our shared future through kinship. Drawing from Anishinaabe wisdom and personal narrative, she challenges us to honor treaties and restore relationships with the land in solidarity. This poignant exploration blends historical analysis with communal memory, lighting the path toward a more just world.
