Native American Literature for the Classroom.
Compiled by: Sarah Mandziara
Native Americans were earliest inhabitants of North America. They enjoyed a
strong relationship with the natural world, close-knit social structures, and a vibrant mythology that has largely been forgotten or relegated to brief mention in the history texts of our schools today.
I think it is important for students to understand the people that first lived on the land
that we do today, void of stereotypes, misconceptions, and false stories.
The Native American culture is filled with stories, legends, art, and dance that can engage and develop
students into appreciating the beautiful culture and identity that still exists and flourishes today.
Picture
BooksLevine, Ellen. (1999). If you lived with the Iroquois (If You Lived). New York : Scholastic.
A beautiful representation of everyday life with the Iroquois Indians. The book is illustrated in full watercolor paintings. Its eighty pages are divided into sections outlining the various activities, customs, and traditional roles of historical Iroquois tribes. This is a great book that will leave students feeling as if they are living in a little part of history with one of America's most influential tribes of its times.
Martin, Bill. (1966). Knots on a counting rope. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
One dark night a boy sits with his grandfather under a sky full of stars close to a glowing fire. The grandfather tells the boy the story of his birth and about the fierce storm that rage that night. He talks about how the boy was very weak and almost dies as he tees a knot in his counting rope. The story symbolizes hope and courage as the boy faces his disability, which is blindness. The counting rope is a metaphor for the strength he has been building through the years that he will have to tap when his grandfather is gone. This book is filled with beautiful watercolor paintings to convey the images form a grandfathers heart and the images that arise from the darkness in a blind boys eyes. This book is a great resource to use when children are learning about Native Americans and about feelings of hope and courage.
Philip, Neil. (2001). Weave little stars into my sleep: Native American lullabies. New York: Clarion Books.
This book is really neat. It is filled with lullabies sung to babies and small children from various tribes all over America including, Ojibwa, Inuit, Haida, Crow, Pawnee, Hopi, Kiowa, Yuma, and many more. This book shows the universal love and peace that all people show with children. This book demonstrates both practices and cultures of the various tribes and through the short songs their beliefs are presented and passed down to their children. The book is especially amazing because it is illustrated using old pictures in black and white from a time when Native Americans still dressed in their traditional clothing. It is a beautiful book and would be an excellent addition to a Native American unit and can be used in a music lesson, studied to find common characteristics among Native tribes, or compared and contrasted to popular lullabies the world over.
Monture, Joel. (1996). Cloudwalker: Contemporary Native American stories. Golden: Fulcrum Kids.
Native American children all over the country have the very difficult task of taking, appreciating, and living two very different cultures- Native American and modern day. Many young people struggle with the clash that is caused by retaining Native practices while growing up in contemporary American society. These are stories about how children are living in our society today and how they are still being amazed by the rich beautiful culture of their native people. This is a great book to help students understand that Native American struggles still exist today and that they are kids just like them.
Field, Edward. (1998). Magic words. San Diego: Gulliver Books.
This is a wonderful compilation of traditional Inuit stories about how the world and its inhabitants came to be. The stories are poetic and fantastic, but the coolest thing about this book are the illustrations. All the pictures are photographs of art constructed using things from the earth such as bark, rocks, shells, fungus, moss, and sticks, all painted with warm beautiful colors to convey the message of the story. The rocks and other materials are laid carefully on a bed of snow and photographed to fill the page of this fantastic book. This would be a great book to read and then follow up with an art lesson where students wrote their own poems and painted rocks to symbolize them.
Philip, Neil (ED.). (1995). Songs are thoughts: Poems of the Inuit. New York: Orchard Books.
Inuit poetry was created as a means to share joy or sorrow with the members of the tribe. This book was the first book that compiled poems of the Inuit for young readers. This book is a compilation of Inuit poetry written by men and women of the Inuit tribes. They are dark and mysterious and convey both happy a sad thought. Poetry is always a great way to take a close and intimate look at a culture or a person. Poetry comes from the soul and it is a useful window for students to look in when studying the Native cultures of America.
FolkloreBruchac, Joseph. (1998). The first strawberries: A Cherokee story. New York: Puffin.
This book is the legend created by the Cherokee people that explain where Strawberries come from. it addresses issues such as anger and forgiveness and can be used both for a Native American unit or during units dealing with feelings. The story draws the reader in with its lyrical text and is uncomplicated for young readers. A true folk tale in its original form.
Hausman, Gerald. (1995). How Chipmunk got tiny feet. New York: Harper Collins.
"Here in the world we must live together, not apart." This is the general message that comes through in all of the stories including in this text. This book is filled with Native American folklore about how animals came to be and their purpose here on earth. The animals go though difficult life lessons and with the help of Mother Earth come to be the animals we know today. A great book to learn that we must coincide together and be respectful of everything around us.
Chapter BooksHobbs, Will. (Reissued 1997). Bearstone. New York: Macmillian Publishing.
Cloyd, a 14 year old NAtive American boy living in Utah has lost both of his parents and has grown up without schooling or love. He is sent by his people to a home for Indian boys. Cloyd then moves to Colorado where a old man takes him into his home. Cloyd finds a bearstone in an old Indian burial cave and secretly renames himself Lone Bear and calls upon his ancestors for help. He discovers his own strength and the strength of family and love that he has been missing. This book is beneficial because it takes a look at present day Native Americans and the prevailing of their culture.
Hobbs, Will. (1993). Beardance. New York: Macmillian Publishing.
This book is a sequel to the book Bearstone. This books starts off with Cloyd and his caregiver riding into the mountains to find an old Spanish gold mine. But news has been going around about the last grizzly bears left in Colorado inhabiting those very mountains. Cloyd meets a wonderful woman named Ursa and together they find the Grizzlies instead of Gold. In a strange twist of fate the grizzly cubs are orphaned and it is up to Cloyd to make sure they survive. Lone Bear digs deeper and deeper into his animal ancestry and fight through the winter for his life and the cubs. Both novels are great for the study of past and present Native American culture, as well as myths, dreams, family, and hope.
Informational BooksWaldman, Carl. (1999). Encyclopedia of Native American tribes. New York: Checkmark Books.
This is an awesome informational resource for students! It includes over 150 tribes in its pages, some are covered in a short paragraph while others are discussed in pages. The information reflects both historical and present day information about tribes, customs, traditional life, changes, and everyday life on a reservation. A great book where even experts can learn something new!
Ancona, George. (1993). Powwow. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company.
A beautiful book filled with amazing photographs taken and compiled by the author. The book takes the reader through the preparation for the biggest Powwow in America which is held each year on the Crow Reservation in Montana. It takes the reader through the various tribes their customs, dress, and dance. It gives great detail about where the concept of the Powwow came from and why tribes still come together today to celebrate and remember their ancestors and culture.
BiographiesHoyt-Goldsmith, Diane. (1997). Buffalo Days. New York: Holiday House.
A wonderful story about a young boy from the Crow Indian tribe named Clarence Three Irons, Jr., or as his family calls him, Indian. Indian's family manages the Buffalo herds of their people and this talks about his everyday life within his reservation and his families duties to the tribe. Indian is expected to be a man far before he has reached his age and help with the duties. But there is still time for fun when the Crow Festival rolls around each year and Indian can celebrate his heritage and duties with family and friends. Indians story is captured in photographs and engaging text.
King, Sandra. (1993). Shannon: An Ojibway dancer. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company.
This is another great biography of a young girl living in present times and holding on to her Native American Culture. Shannon lives in Minneapolis. It shows Shannon enjoying things that every 13 year old loves but still going home to work on the intricate beading for her moccasins and dress that she will wear while she dances at festivals in the summer. This book focuses on the journey Shannon's family has taken when leaving their reservation to find jobs in the city. This is a good book to use when studying Native Americans because it portrays someone close to students ages living in our world today while still retaining her Native American culture. This book demonstrates that Native Americans are not a thing of the past.
Lang, Paul. (1995). Maria Tallchief: Native American ballerina (Native American Biographies). Berkley Heights: Enslow Publishers.
A wonderful book about the struggles to find one's place in society and hold on to the culture which has created a person. This story about Maria who was a mixed heritage of Scottish and Osage Indian and her struggle to follow her dream as a ballerina. Maria grew up in Oklahoma on her family reservation. WHen her family moved to California to find a better life she followed her dreams and eventually danced at the Hollywood Bowl. A wonderful story about following you dreams, and another excellent example to dispel common stereotypes. This comes from a series with a long list of Native americans that are fantastic role models from sports heroes to activists, and freedom fighters they are great examples of strong successful Native Americans.
Professional SourcesCaduto, Michael. (1994). Keepers of the night: Native American stories and nocturnal activities for children. Golden: Fulcrum Publishing.
This book helps teachers teach students about the importance of the night to Native Americans. NAtive Americans thought that the night was a crucial part of the Great Circle and helped to balance the universe. This book walks students through various [practices and is filled with nighttime observation activities, sensory walks, puppet show, scent games, stargazing activities, and traditional dances. A great book that offers a unique perspective into the world of Native Americans and their relationship with nature.
Caduto, Michael. (1991). Keepers of the animals: Native American stories and wildlife activities for children. Golden: Fulcrum.
This book is a compilation of environmental lesson that are interwoven with Native American heritage to create interesting fun actives for children. The book provides a complete program of study in the important concepts of wildlife ecology and environmental issues concerning animals. The activities and lessons included involve students in creative arts, theater, reading, writing, science, social studies, mathematics, and sensory awareness. This is a great resource for activities that are fun, creative, and most of all leave the students with a sense of whole self and that they really learned something powerful.
Internet Sourceshttp://www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/ALVE/NativeAmerhome.html/nativeamhome.html
A listing of great web site for student information~http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Thanksgiving/Native.html
A student made page that studies various Native tribes~http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/index.htm
An Index of Native American Teaching Resources~http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/indices/NAteach.html
Crafts for Kids~http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/indian/
Native American Poetry~http://victorian.fortunecity.com/delacroix/371/poetry.html
Sioux Holy Man: Fools Crow.
Given as an opening prayer for a session of the United States Senate, 1975.