10 Jun Books for your knowledge

We’ve received numerous inquiries asking for guidance on how individuals can educate themselves on issues facing Indigenous peoples and resources to learn more about our peoples, art, and traditions.

Here are a few recommendations:

THE KNOWLEDGE SEEKER
Author: Blair Stonechild
In The Knowledge Seeker, Blair Stonechild shares his sixty-year journey of learning-from residential school to PhD and beyond-while trying to find a place for Indigenous spirituality in the classroom. Encouraged by an Elder who insisted sacred information be written down. “An essential book” – Brian Rice, author of The Rotinonshonni and Seeing the World with Indigenous Eyes
“As more people ripen to understand the new world holocaust of our First Nations, Blair Stonechild’s book is timely. To bring to light the spiritual relationships, attitudes, and practices of Indigenous people makes a real contribution to the world of thought.” – Buffy Sainte-Marie
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FIRST NATIONS 101
Author: Lynda Gray
First Nations 101 is an easy to read primer that provides readers with a broad overview of the diverse and complex lives of First Nations people. It is packed with more than 70 subjects including education, youth, child welfare, urbanization, appropriate questions to ask a First Nations person, feminism, the medicine wheel, Two-spirit (LGBTQ), residential schools, the land bridge theory, and language preservation. Author Lynda Gray endeavours to leave readers with a better understanding of the shared history of First Nations and non-First Nations people, and ultimately calls upon all of us – individuals, communities, and governments – to play active roles in bringing about true reconciliation between First Nations and non-First Nations people.
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PEACE PIPE DREAMS
Author: Darrell Dennis
A stereotype-busting, politically incorrect Native American/Aboriginal/Shuswap With a large dose of humour and irreverence, he untangles some of the truths and myths about First Nations: Also tackles some tougher subjects. He looks at European-Native interactions in North America from the moment of first contact discussing; the fur trade, treaty-signing and the implementation of residential schools. Addressing misconceptions still widely believed today, Dennis explains why Native people aren’t genetically any more predisposed to become alcoholics than Caucasians

INDIGENOUS REPATRIATION HANDBOOK
Authors: Nika Collison, Lucy Bell & Lou-ann Neel
A reference for BC Indigenous communities and museums, created by and for Indigenous people working in repatriation. Our late friend and brother Rod Naknakim said, “Reconciliation and repatriation cannot and should not be separated. The two must anchor our conversation and guide our efforts as we move forward collectively with common purpose and understanding.” This handbook, the first to be created by and for Indigenous people, provides practical information that will enable each of the 34 unique Indigenous language and cultural groups in BC to carry out the process of repatriation in ways that align with the cultural traditions of each respective community. It also provides information that will be helpful to museums, and to Indigenous communities across Canada.

CEDAR
Author: Hilary Stewart
All parts of the cedar tree had many uses. From the wood, skilled men made ocean-going canoes, massive post-and-beam houses, monumental carved poles that declared history, rights and lineage, and powerful dance masks. Hilary Stewart explains, through her vivid descriptions, 550 detailed drawings and 50 photographs, the tools and techniques used.
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INDIAN FISHING
Author: Hilary Stewart 
The Northwest Coast people devised ingenious ways of catching the differein over 450 drawings and 75 photographs. One section demonstrates how the catch was butchered, cooked, rendered and preserved.

THE BLACK CANOE
Artist: Bill Reid  Author: Robert Bringhurst
This book is about Bill Reid’s ‘Spirit of Haida Gwaii’, a sculpture commissioned for the courtyard of the new Canadian chancery in Washington, D.C., together with a brief summary of Haida history and culture and biography of Bill Reid.

THEY WRITE THEIR DREAMS ON THE ROCK FOREVER
Author: Chris Arnett
In this book, ‘Nlaka’pamux elder Annie York explains the red-ochre inscriptions written on the rocks and cliffs of the lower Stein Valley in British Columbia. This is perhaps the first time that a Native elder has presented a detailed and comprehensive explanation of rock-art images from her people’s culture. As Annie York’s narratives unfold, we are taken back to the fresh wonder of childhood, as well as to a time in human society when people and animals lived together in one psychic dimension.

LEARNING BY DESIGNING VOLUME 1, 2 & LEARNING BY DOING
Authors: Karin Clark & Jim Gilbert
These publications follow the beginner’s book, Learning by Doing Northwest Coast Native Indian Art. Comprehensive work, containing over 800 illustrations in both traditional and contemporary art styles, are some of the most thorough reference works available on Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations two-dimensional art. Examples of the four coastal art styles are accompanied by straightforward text, making these unique and indispensable references and guide books.
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COLOUR & DRAW
Learn the elements of formline design in this colour and draw book that features artists from the Northwest Coast. Featuring the work of over 30 contributing artists. ⯮ Shop

COLOURING OUR DRUMS
Colour the drums of the Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest and find your own creative rhythm. Engage the Northwest Coast culture and tradition through 32 drawings by First Nations and Native American artists. Made in Canada from paper sourced from sustainable forests. ⯮ Shop

COLORING BENTWOOD BOXES
Colour traditional bentwood box designs from the ancient cultures of the Pacific Northwest. These carved and painted cedar bentwood boxes store sacred regalia or traditional foods. Featuring the work of over 20 contributing artists. ⯮ Shop

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