Native American Heritage

#OwnVoices is a term coined by the writer Corinne Duyvis, and refers to an author from a marginalized or under-represented group writing about their own experiences/from their own perspective, rather than someone from an outside perspective writing as a character from an underrepresented group.

This is hugely important in juvenile literature where there is often a representation gap. #WeNeedDiverseBooks is another popular movement that calls for diversity and own voice stories. Kids and teens who grown up reading learn from the books they read. The issue at hand is that there are not enough books where children see themselves in the books or do not see themselves represented well. This then leads them to grow up thinking that they are not accepted in society due to their race or ethnicity. #OwnVoices seeks to show proper representation of diverse authors writing stories that feature characters of their race, ethnicity and culture. For Native American youth this is especially difficult due to the stigma and political factors involved in the acceptance of Native Americans into society. 

Below are books that seeks to normalize the Native American experience and way of life while also educating everyone of the myriad of cultures that exist. There is no one Native American culture, each tribe has their own customs and traditions. It is up to the individual to read and learn from it.