Stories From Native America: Children’s Books From Across the Northeast
Belonging(s): “A close relationship among a group and personal or public effects”
“Asco wequassinummis, neetompooag” (Hello my friends)!
Hello, my name is Haley Johnson and welcome to the Belongings Blog! I am the Indigenous Empowerment Network Intern here at the Tomaquag Museum. I belong to the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation and will be graduating from Rhode Island College in Spring 2021 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts concentrating in Ceramics and Art History.
Storytelling has always played a large role in Native communities. Traditionally, these stories help to pass down cultural knowledge and understanding from generation to generation. Now, we use them to educate all who are willing to learn. With todays social distancing and quarantine woes, I thought I would share some book recommendations for our young readers. It is important to note that while the stories and creativity in the area are abundant, there is little access to publishing opportunities for our storytellers. I have compiled this list of books featuring Eastern Woodland authors with the intention of reminding readers that our stories are bright, engaging, and thriving regardless this limitation. Throughout this post, I provide instructions on where to find physical copies and resources for supporting the reading and sharing of Indigenous cultural knowledge. The Tomaquag Museum is dedicated to promoting Indigenous storytelling and authorship through accessibility of Indigenous knowledge.
Da Goodie Monsta
Robert Peters of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation, illustrates the retelling of a story given to him by his son. The book follows a boy named Shaka as he embarks on a journey to find his dreams. He encounters hardships as he sets on his quest to meet the Da Goodie Monsta in pursuit of finding his dreams. This book can be found in the Tomaquag Museum gift shop. Follow this link to purchase and support our growth in education!
Strawberry Thanksgiving
Written by Paulla Jennings of the Niantic and Narragansett Nations, writes about a young boy named Adam and his families traditions surrounding Strawberry Thanksgiving. Vibrant illustrations by Ramona Peters of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation, compliment the story and bring the characters to life. While this book is currently out of print, the Tomaquag Museum is currently working to revive this story with new photographs in 2022! Until then, you can following along with Silvermoon LaRose as she reads the story in our Children’s Hour series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwfhEtgVMAs
We also have a great retelling of Grandmother’s story told by Educator Lynsea Montanari on our YouTube as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CDxybVgKrE
Powwow
This story features young Tina Howowswee as she prepares for the first Powwow of the season! Linda Coombs, author and member of the Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts, details the importance of family and community in her story following the young girl as she prepares for her first competitive dance. Accompanying the lush illustrations of the Powwow circuit by Carson Waterman (Seneca Nation), are photographs of dancers and traditional ceremonies often seen during Powwow. At the back of the book, is a glossary to aid in the pronunciation and understanding of words typically used when talking about Powwow. Unfortunately this story, like Strawberry Thanksgiving was printed in limited capacity and more difficult to find, however we did locate some copies available on Amazon and eBay. You may be even able to find it on the shelves of your local library.
Clambake: A Wampanoag Tradition
Follow Steven, a young Mashpee boy, as he learns the tradition of clambake from his grandfather. Written by Russell M. Peters of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation, this book gives an in depth description of the hard work and ceremony associated with this ancient way of cooking through beautiful narration. At the end of the book, Peters not only provides his readers with a glossary, but also with suggestions for further readings, some of which are also on this list! You can find this book in most public libraries and on the web. We recommend purchasing from oyate.org and other Indigenous owned businesses for this and all other reading materials whenever possible.
Muskrat Will Be Swimming
This book is an incredible aide in teaching about bullies and promoting self-esteem. Jeannie, a young Abenaki girl, is made fun of for being different than the other kids in her class. Her grandfather’s stories and wisdoms teach her to persevere as she learns the creation story and the assistance of Muskrat. You can order this book, written by Abenaki author Cheryl Savageau, from a small Native owned independent bookstore called Birchbark Books in Minneapolis, MN.
https://birchbarkbooks.com/all-online-titles/muskrat-will-be-swimming
Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration
This beautifully illustrated tale written by Jackie French Koller is well informed an Ethnohistorian of the Narragansett Tribe, Dr. Ella Sekatau. This books follows the Narragansett as they prepare for and celebrate their winter thanksgiving through games, eating, dancing, and of course, giving. Not only is this a stunning representation of this tradition, but the author has provided a glossary and a note about the implications of thanksgiving from a modern perspective. This title is a hard one to find outside of Amazon, however, the illustrations and story are a wonderful addition to any conversation about Thanksgiving.
https://www.amazon.com/Nickommoh-Thanksgiving-Jackie-French-Koller/dp/0689810946
Rabbit’s Wish for Snow
Long ago, both Rabbit and the Willow looked very different than they do today. Tchin (Narragansett and Siksika) tells the tale of the mischievous Rabbit and how he changed himself and the Willow so that he could see snow in this beautifully illustrated book. You can find copies on Amazon and eBay. Below, I have linked a recording of the author, Tchin, sharing this tale in his own special way.
https://www.pbs.org/circleofstories/storytellers/tchin.html#transcript
Thirteen Moons on Turtle’s Back
Written by Joseph Bruchac, Nulhegan Abenaki, and Johnathan London, each page features a poem about one of Thirteen traditional Thanksgivings and a related illustration. Starting with a narrative between grandfather and son, the book starts with a teaching about the thirteen sections on a turtles shell and the relationship they have with the thirteen moons of each year. The full page illustrations adopt the themes of each Thanksgiving topic, creating beautiful reminders of why we celebrate each one. You can find this book online with the link below!
Woodchuck Visits Algonquian Cousins
Take a trip with woodchuck as she travels around the country to visit her friends and family! This read gives youngsters the opportunity to see Algonquin words in the world today and tells a great story of travel and friendship. While this book was intended to be the first in a series, Karen Coody Cooper found self-publishing a difficult undertaking. This is why it is so important for more opportunities to be presented to Indigenous authors, to keep these books coming! Use the link below to read along with Silvermoon and learn more history of the Algonquin language!
The Sugar Bush
Tag along with Waseyabin as she shows you the process of maple sugaring! While this book is set on the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota, these practices are shared amongst Northeastern Woodlands nations as our practices moved alongside the relocation of our people. How do you enjoy maple syrup? Purchase the book here:
http://oyate.org/index.php/hikashop-menu-for-module-114/product/637-the-sugar-bush
Make Me A Salad
Our last book is not exactly a book, but comes straight from the Tomaquag Museum! Silvermoon LaRose, the assistant director here at the museum, is a great story teller and in this video, shares the story Make Me a Salad. With the help of her son, Nikosis, the two make their way outside to see what they can forage for the ultimate summer-time dinner.
…….And now, a message from the Tomaquag Museum:
Our communities are just bursting with stories waiting to be told. Native communities of the Northeast can offer a unique gaze into the story of this country, being on the front lines of colonization. We have memories to share that reflect the history and culture of our tribal nations. We have stories that speak to acculturation and assimilation and our fight for self-determination, preservation, and recognition. These stories need to be shared. What can you do? Support Indigenous authors throughout North America. Show publishers that there is a vibrant and vital market for these books. Request more diverse publications, write a letter or make a call. Make a recommendation to schools, libraries and universities. Share works by Indigenous Authors on social media, help them go viral. Wherever and whenever you can, help uplift Indigenous voices!
In addition to these great reads, be sure to access our Resource page for more!
https://www.tomaquagmuseum.org/resources