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: 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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| Joseph Bruchac Abenaki |
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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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| Art Coulson Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma |
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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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| Erika Wurth Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee Image source: http://goo.gl/QtdKbW |
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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
Tlingit, member 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
2 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!
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