Indigenous History Month at BPL
Throughout June, we honour the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
At BPL, we recognize that we play an important role in educating our community about Indigenous peoples in Canada by amplifying Indigenous voices and making books by Indigenous authors readily available.
Attend Events In Person
During Indigenous History Month 2025, we welcome book illustrator and Indigenous fine artist Jennifer Faria to Making Tracks on Saturday, June 21, where kids ages 6 to 12 will learn how to draw the animal tracks featured in her picture books.
On Sunday, June 22, Indigenous educator and storyteller Jim Adams shares the history of the breads made by Cree and Anishinaabe people before Scottish settlers introduced their 'bannock' bread. In this talk, Bannock on Turtle Island, he also explores how the Canadian diet has affected Indigenous people.
Books from Past Presenters at BPL
We’ve had many amazing Indigenous authors at Burlington Public Library speak about the importance of Indigenous history and heritage. The month of June presents an opportunity to read their books and learn from their experiences.
Susan Aglukark
Well known for her Juno Award-winning music, Inuk artist Susan Aglukark has also written a children’s book, Una Huna? Ukpik Learns to Sew. It’s the story of a Ukpik learning the importance of traditional survival skills for the cold Arctic climate.
Explore Susan Aglukark in our collection
Joseph Dandurand
Kwantlen writer Joseph Dandurand dives deep into the ongoing process of healing through reconnection with family, the natural world, and traditional Indigenous storytelling. In addition to writing award-winning poetry, Joseph Dandurand has also written plays and children’s books. He is from Kwantlen First Nation in British Columbia.
Explore Joseph Dandurand in our collection
Alicia Elliott
A nationally acclaimed Tuscarora writer from Six Nations of the Grand River, Alicia Elliott's debut novel, And Then She Fell, is a gripping story about Native life, motherhood, and mental health that follows a young Mohawk woman who discovers that the picture-perfect life she always hoped for may have horrifying consequences.
Explore Alicia Elliott in our collection
Cheryl Isaacs
In her stunning debut novel, The Unfinished, Cheryl Isaacs presents a gripping young adult horror story that weaves together themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the supernatural, creating a chilling and thought-provoking read. The story follows small-town athlete Avery, who discovers a pond, hidden in a forest, that awakens a long-forgotten horror and a force that has been waiting, watching, and is now hungry for souls.
Kristy Jackson
Mortified by Kristy Jackson is a middle-grade novel that follows the story of Belinda Houle, the shyest kid in school. Simultaneously funny and heartwarming, Mortified captures the essence of preteen embarrassment and the importance of self-acceptance, resilience and friendship.
Patty Krawec
In Becoming Kin, Patty Krawec weaves her own story with the story of her ancestors and with the broader themes of creation, replacement, and disappearance. She poses the question, What would it look like to remember that we are all related? How might we become better relatives to the land, to one another, and to Indigenous movements for solidarity? Krawec is an Anishinaabe and Ukrainian writer from Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario.
Explore Patty Krawec in our collection
Stacey Laforme
In Living in the Tall Grass: Poems of Reconciliation, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Chief R. Stacey Laforme gives a history of his people through stories and poetry to let Canadians see through the eyes of Indigenous people. This collection carries a universal message that "We should not have to change to fit into society the world should adapt to embrace our uniqueness."
Amanda Peters
A writer of Mi’kmaq and settler ancestry, Amanda Peters' dazzling debut novel, The Berry Pickers, is a riveting story about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma, and the persistence of love across time.
Explore Amanda Peters in our collection
Brandon Reid
Imbued with passion and insight, Brandon Reid's debut novel, Beautiful Beautiful, is a wonderful coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Derik Mormin on a journey to Bella Bella for his grandfather's funeral. During the trip, while bonding with his father and reconnecting with his Indigenous roots, Derrick questions the ideas of masculinity and cultural tradition handed down to him.
Waubgeshig Rice
Waubgeshig Rice is an Anishinaabe writer from the Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario and the author of the phenomenal breakout bestseller Moon of the Crusted Snow. The story picks up a decade later in Rice's sequel, Moon of the Turning Leaves, a brooding tale of survival, resilience, Indigenous identity, and rebirth.
Explore Waubgeshig Rice in our collection
David A. Robertson
The Theory of Crows, by award-winning Cree author David A. Robertson, is the story of a troubled father and his estranged teenage daughter who head out onto the land in search of the family trapline to find a way back to themselves and to each other.
Explore David A. Robertson in our collection
Maurice H. Switzer
We Are All Treaty People, written by Maurice Switzer of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation and illustrated by Charley Hebert, a member of Dokis First Nation, is a 34-page illustrated history offering students and educators a brief look at the history of treaties from the Anishinabek perspective.
Drew Hayden Taylor
Drew Hayden Taylor's new book, Cold, takes tropes from the murder mystery, police procedural, thriller, and horror genres, weaving a pulse-pounding and propulsive narrative with an intricate cast of characters, while never losing the ability to make you laugh. Taylor is an Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario.
Explore Drew Hayden Taylor in our collection
Jesse Wente
In Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance, Jesse Wente uncovers the lies and myths that affest the relations between white and Indigenous peoples and the power of narrative to emphasize truth over comfort. He is an Ojibwe member of Serpent River First Nation.
Indigenous History Month Booklists
Indigenous History Month is not only a time to celebrate but also a time to educate ourselves and others about the rich and diverse history and heritage of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada.
We invite you to explore these booklists curated by BPL staff for more Indigenous History Month books and resources.
Memoirs by Indigenous People in Canada
Stories and Tales for and about our Indigenous Young Adults
CBC Books: Indigenous Literature
