Rights of Nature Reads

Here is a great list of books from the librarian at the Indian Community School in Franklin about the place of Nature in Native American Culture.

 

  1. The Night Watchman by Louise ErdrichThis novel, based on the life of Erdrich’s grandfather, a Native rights activist, explores the effects of government policy on Indigenous communities. It delves into themes of resilience, family, and connection to land.
  2. All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life by Winona LaDukeWinona LaDuke, a prominent Indigenous environmental activist, offers insights into environmental issues facing Indigenous communities and explores the spiritual and cultural connections Native peoples have with the land.
  3. As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom through Radical Resistance by Leanne Betasamosake SimpsonIn this collection of essays, Simpson, a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar and writer, discusses Indigenous knowledge systems and how they offer alternative ways of thinking about governance, land stewardship, and community.

 

  1. Tracing the Lines: Spiritual Ecology, Environmental Justice, and Decolonizing Theology by Patty KrawecKrawec, of Anishinaabe and Ukrainian heritage, combines memoir, history, and analysis to reflect on environmental justice, spirituality, and Indigenous land rights, weaving in both personal stories and community knowledge.

 

  1. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

 

This essay collection by Haudenosaunee writer Alicia Elliott explores complex topics like mental health, racism, and colonialism with an emphasis on personal experiences, while also discussing connections to land and identity.

 

  1. Our History Is the Future by Nick Estes

 

Estes, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, examines Indigenous resistance movements, especially the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, and how these actions reflect long-standing struggles for land and water protection.

  1. Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources by M. Kat Anderson

 

This book explores Indigenous ecological knowledge and sustainable land practices, particularly in California. It provides a deep dive into how Native people have shaped and cared for landscapes in the region.

 

 

**The Serviceberry also by Robin Wall Kimmerer-is another great read.