Library Spotlight: Posts

21 Books to Read for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Beyond

September 30, 2021, is National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. You are invited to take action every day to advance the wellbeing and prosperity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Begin by first educating yourself with this list of readings compiled by Dean Seright & Associate Dean Hartwick from Humber's Indigenous Education and Engagement. Find these resources and more at Humber Libraries. 

1. Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
2. Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume One: Summary
3. Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga
4. Unsettling Canada A National Wake-up Call By Arthur Manuel and Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson
5. The Inconvenient Indian A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King
6. Secret Path Gord Downie
7. The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew
8. Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in Canada by Paulette Regan
9. A National Crime The Canadian Government and the Residential School System by John Milloy
10. A Knock on the Door The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by Phil Fontaine, Aimée Craft, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
11. Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
12. Fatty Legs: A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
13. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
14. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
15. In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott
16. Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot
17. When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
18. I lost my talk by Rita Joe illustrated by Pauline Young
19. Im finding my talk by Rebecca Thomas illustrated by Pauline Young  
20. Phyllis's Orange Shirt by Phyllis Webstad
21. Call me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the NHL's First Treaty Indigenous Player by Freddie Sasakamoose 

For more resources on residential schools and more, browse the library's Indigenous Research Guide, created with support from Indigenous Education and Engagement at Humber. Follow and use the hashtag #IndigenousLitYouShouldRead for further recommendations and reads.