Editor's note. Most recent update: Jan 28, 2024.
I want that for Native kids. I want them to see books written and illustrated by people who look like them. I want them to be able to think "Hmmm... I could be a writer, too, just like Cynthia Leitich Smith!" or "Hey! I could be an illustrator, too, just like Shonto Begay!"
I understand that white authors and illustrators
may feel threatened by my advocacy
of Native writers and illustrators,
of Native writers and illustrators,
but that advocacy is for Native children who
deserve the same affirmations white kids get all the time.
When reading or booktalking a book written by or illustrated by a Native person, the parent/teacher/librarian can say "Eric Gansworth is Onondaga." That two-letter word, IS, is a powerful one and communicates a great deal to kids. That parent/teacher/librarian can then say "The office for the Onondaga Nation is in New York." And that parent or teacher or librarian can say, "let's talk about sovereignty of tribal nations!"
This photo gallery is a tribute to Native writers and illustrators of books I've recommended on AICL. They are in no particular order. Over time, I'll keep adding to this gallery. I welcome you to write to me to let me know to add someone I've missed. Each person's tribal nation is beneath their name. If there are errors, I apologize, and please let me know. Update on Sep 30, 2023: I am removing Joseph Bruchac from the gallery because I am no longer confident of his claim to Native identity.
Update: Feb 24, 2018--I am removing Sherman Alexie's photo from this gallery, in light of reports that he has harassed and undermined Native writers.
American Indians in Children's Literature
is pleased to present
A Gallery of Native Writers and Illustrators
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| Cynthia Leitich Smith Muscogee Creek Image source: Cynsations http://goo.gl/0wneBW |
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| Michael Lacapa Apache, Hopi Image source: Northern Arizona Book Festival http://goo.gl/4POyCQ |
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| Louise Erdrich Turtle Mountain Chippewa Image source: Cleveland.com http://goo.gl/bXzSwn |
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| Eric Gansworth Onondaga Image source: Milkweed http://goo.gl/6FqBTB |
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| Nicola I. Campbell Nlel7kepmx, Nsilx and Metis Image source: The Word on the Street http://goo.gl/l284Ko |
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| Tim Tingle Choctaw Image source: My Very Own Book http://goo.gl/4KRgwp |
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| Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Lakota Sioux Image source: Native Daughters http://goo.gl/1mCbDU |
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| Richard Van Camp Dogrib Image Source: Zimbio http://goo.gl/Zg8TNR |
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| Arigon Starr Kickapoo Image source: Starrwatcher Online http://goo.gl/hyLzhc |
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| S.D. Nelson Standing Rock Sioux |
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| Beverly Blacksheep Navajo |
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| Lee DeCora Francis, and her boys Penobscot |
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| Simon Ortiz Acoma |
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| Dovie Thomason Kiowa Apache Image Source: University of Missouri St. Louis http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/files/2012/04/thomason_dovie_400_266.jpg |
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| Cheryl Savageau Abenaki |
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| Donald Uluadluak Inuit |
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| Jan Bourdeau Waboose Nishnawbe Ojibwe |
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| Daniel Wilson Cherokee |
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| Joy Harjo Mvskoke |
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| Shonto Begay Navajo |
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| Cheryl Minnema Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe |
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| Wesley Ballinger Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe |
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| Luci Tapahonso Navajo |
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| Greg Rodgers Choctaw |
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| Marcie Rendon White Earth Anishinabe |
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| Ofelia Zepeda Tohono O'Odham |
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| N. Scott Momaday Kiowa |
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| Laura Tohe Navajo |
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| Allan Sockabasin Passamaquoddy |
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| Julie Flett Metis |
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| Richard Wagamese Wabasseemoong Ojibway |
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| Leslie Marmon Silko Laguna |
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| Heid E. Erdrich Turtle Mountain Chippewa |
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| Deborah Miranda Esselen |
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| John Rombough Chipewyan Dene |
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| James Welch Blackfeet/Gros Ventre |
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| Tomson Highway Cree |
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| George Littlechild Plains Cree |
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| Roy Boney Cherokee Image source: http://goo.gl/KTa8HF |
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| Lisa Charleyboy Tsilhqot'in - Raven Clan Image source: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/ |
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| Jim Yellowhawk Cheyenne River Sioux Image source: http://www.indianz.com/News/2015/017667.asp |
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| Carole Lindstrom Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Image source: personal email |
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| Jennifer Denetdale Navajo Image source: http://nmcmedia.org/video-gallery/thumbs/kuat1_360.jpg |
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| Theo Tso Paiute Image source: https://www.facebook.com/teddy.tso.9 |
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| Jeannie Barbour Chickasaw Nation Image source: https://www.chickasaw.tv/profiles-of-a-nation/list/jeannie-barbour |
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| Glenda Galvan Chickasaw Nation Image source: https://www.chickasawpress.com/Authors/Glenda-Galvan.aspx |
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| Daniel Heath Justice Cherokee Nation Image source: https://uofmpress.ca/blog/entry/excerpt-from-masculindians-daniel-heath-justice |
Irish, Scottish, English, Cree
Image source: http://www.darobertson.ca/biography/
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Monique Gray Smith
Cree, Lakota, Scottish
Image source: author
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| Daniel Vandever Navajo Image source: author |
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| Amanda Strong Michif Photo from Highwater Press |
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| Sharol Graves Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Photographer: J. Gross, 2005 (photo provided by Graves) |
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| Brenda J. Child Red Lake Ojibwe Photographer: Lisa Miller |
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| Gordon Jourdain Lac La Crois First Nation Photographer: Brady Willette |
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| Jonathan Thunder Red Lake Ojibwe Photographer: Dana Mattice of Artspace |
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| Christine Day Upper Skagit Photo provided by Day |
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| Dallas Hunt Wapisewsipi (Swan River First Nation) Photo from Highwater Press |
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| Dawn Quigley Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Photo: author's Twitter account |
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| Traci Sorell Cherokee Nation Photo: author's website |
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| Cherie Dimaline Métis Photo: author's Facebook page |
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| Darcie Little Badger Lipan Apache Photo provided by author |
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| Layli Long Soldier Oglala Lakota Photo from U Iowa Writers Workshop |
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Kevin Maillard
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma,
Mekusukey Band
Photo provided by Maillard
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| Weshoyot Alvitre Tongva, Cahuilla, Chumash, Spanish & Scottish Photo from Alvitre |
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Michaela Goade
Enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and of the Kiks.ådi Clan
Photo from Goade
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Jenny Kay Dupuis
Anishinaabe, Nipissing First Nation
Photo provided by Dupuis
Inuvialuk of the Inuvialuit
Photo provided by Christy Jordan-Fenton
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
Photo provided by Rogers
Angela Gonzalez, Łot'oydaatlno
Łot'oydaatlno is Gonzales's Denaakk'e name
Koyukon Athabascan
Photo by Janessa Howard of Zen Lion Photography
Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholder
Inupiaq from Nome, Alaska
Photo by esther pederson photography
Inupiaq
Tribally enrolled: Lakota, Cheyenne River Sioux
Image Source: Kenneth Girrard
Ho-Chunk Nation
Image Source: Davids
Enrolled, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Photo credit: Amber Boulley
Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation
Photo credit: Anthony Perry
Alexis Bunten
Unangan and Yup'ik
Unangan and Yup'ik
Photo Credit: Alexis Bunten
Enrolled member of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
Photo Credit: Author's website
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara
Photo Credit: Author's website
Enrolled member, Red Lake Band of Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Byron Graves
Lorinda Martinez
Diné
Photo Credit: Navajo-Hopi Observer
Tara Audibert
Wolastoqey
Photo Credit: Harper Collins website
Denise Lajimodiere
Ojibwe
Photo Credit: North Dakota Council on the Arts website
Brittany Gene
Navajo
Photo Credit: Artist's website
Madelyn Goodnight
Chickasaw
Photo Credit: Artist's website
Kelsey Mata
Tlingit
Photo Credit: Artist's website
Jonathan Nelson
Navajo
Photo Credit: Haper Collins website
Brian Young
Navajo
Photo Credit: Author's website
Emily Bowen Cohen
Muscogee, Jewish
Photo Credit: Harper Collins website
Betsy Albert Peacock
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Black Bears and Blueberries website
Thomas Peacock
Fond du Lack Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Black Bears and Blueberries website
3 comments:
Writers and illustrators for children definitely don't feel threatened by advocacy for Native readers. It's wonderful! Writers, illustrators, librarians, everyone wants more diverse voices in children's literature. But no matter who writes them, a very, very small percentage of books written and illustrated actually get published by traditional publishers (although traditional publishers have been asking for more diverse submissions recently).
Wonderful to see all of these talented Native writers and artists in one place, Debbie!
Hello. I am a Gitxsan/Canadian Educator, living and working on the traditional territory of the Gitxsan nation. I am currently taking a librarian course. I appreciate this blog. Particularly that you included pictures so that people can see themselves reflected in these authors. Our public school is 90% plus Indigenous. We are finally starting to have our library of books and resources reflect our population. It is boosting our young peoples confidence to strive to be and do what they want to do. We have a growing number of Gitxsan authors too. Like many nations, we have had a great many artists.
Do you know of any Indigenous bloggers that blog about literature or libraries in the north here in Canada?
Thank you. Hamiiya!
Barb Janze
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