Books For High School
Comics, anthologies, histories, and contemporary stories... these represent the stronger selections for secondary school readers.
Moonshot and This Place: 150 Years Retold are anthologies of comic stories written about, written by, and written for indigenous peoples. The first, Moonshot, is a more contemporary take on Native graphic storytelling. This Place is a representation of well-made and well-represented stories from comics set in the past, present, and future. The best way to familiarize oneself with what came before is to read what is out there now so that you can compare and contrast how perceptions are trying to change.
Nicholson, H. (Ed.). (2015). Moonshot: The indigenous comics collection (Vol.1). Alternate History Comics Inc.
This Place: 150 Years Retold. (2013). Highwater Press.
Katherena Vermette and Scott B. Henderson’s story A Girl Called Echo (as a serialized comic book, collected here into two trade paperback volumes) focuses on a Métis teenager, who essentially time travels to experience Canadian history and indigenous people’s role in it. The first collection has Echo traveling to 1820s Manitoba, as the Métis people try to carve out a place and a home for themselves. The second volume tells the story of Louis Riel and the Métis revolt against the oppressive Canadian government and the Hudson’s Bay Company. Two key examples of storytelling, history sharing, and perspective giving.
Vermette, K. & Henderson, S.B. (illustrator). (2017). A girl called Echo vol.1: Pemmican wars. Highwater Press.
Vermette, K. & Henderson, S.B. (illustrator). (2018). A girl called Echo vol.2: Red River resistance. Highwater Press.
Vermette, K. & Henderson, S.B. (illustrator). (2020). A girl called Echo vol.3: Northwest resistance. Highwater Press.
Dreaming in Indian and #NotYourPrincess are print-based non-fiction texts that detail and elaborate on contemporary representations of Native Americans in multiple artistic fields. Although comics are not mentioned specifically, these two books may help to build on and develop one’s perspective of First Nations people in the modern era. The worlds of fashion, art, poetry, sculpture, photography, acting, writing, and cuisine all benefit from the impact and contributions of indigenous creativity in the 21st Century.
Charleyboy, L. & Leatherdale, M.B. (Eds.). (2017). Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American voices. Annick Press.
Charleyboy, L. & Leatherdale, M.B. (Eds.). (2018). #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American women. Annick Press.
The 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book is just that: graphic representations of historical events, ranging from colonial times to today. Looking at cultures and Indigenous Peoples from across North, Central, and South America, the act of resistance takes on many forms. Fighting the oppressor is not an action that has, nor will stop.
Hill, G. (2021). The 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book (Revised and Expanded). Arsenal Pulp Press.
Secret Path is a graphic novel that tells the story of Chaney Wenjak, a boy escaping from a Residential School, and attempting to walk the 400 miles home. His tragic story is well told through Lemire's images and Gord Downey's lyrics. The album which serves as the text for this story is available on Spotify, and as a free download after purchasing the book. As the back cover says "[Chaney's] story is Canada's story. We are not the country we think we are."
Downie, G. (2016). Secret Path (Illus. by Lemire, J.) Simon and Schuster.
If I Go Missing was originally written as an open letter to the police and authorities, calling out the injustice of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. Simply and beautifully illustrated, this message continues to bring light to dark issues, and strength against public and systemic prejudice.
Jonnie, B. w/ Shingoose, N. (2019). If I Go Missing (Illus. by Nshannacappo). James Lorimer & Co.
Marvel Voices: Heritage is a collection of stories written and illustrated by Indigenous authors and artists, focusing on the telling of the stories of well established (or somewhat forgotten) Native heroes. By re-looking at how these tales get shared, and by using authentic and representational voices to do so, Marvel is able to create an anthology of work that better reflects today's climate when it comes to Indigenous voices.
Cebulski, C.B. (ed. in chief). (2022) Marvel Voices: Heritage. Marvel.
