The First Nation Communities Read program is the Ontario
First Nation public library community’s contribution to the popular
community reading movement. Through its featured Aboriginal titles,
First Nation Communities Read encourages family literacy and
intergenerational storytelling, and promotes the publication, sharing,
and understanding of Aboriginal voices and experiences. The shortlisted
titles are listed below."Indian Horse (M)
by Richard Wagamese
"Saul Indian Horse has hit bottom. His last binge
almost killed him and now he's a reluctant resident in a treatment
centre. But Saul wants peace and he realizes that he'll only find it
through telling his story. Beginning with his childhood on the land, he
embarks on a journey through his life as a northern Ojibway, with all
its joys and sorrows." - Publisher Motorcycles and Sweetgrass (M)
by Drew Hayden Taylor
"Otter Lake is an Anishnaawbe Reserve buried deep in central Ontario. It
is a community with a few problems. But then a mysterious, handsome
white stranger named John arrives riding a vintage 1954 Indian Chief
motorcycle. Who he is nobody knows, except Lillian who happens to be on
her deathbed. When she summons him during her final farewells, she also
charges him with a mission to help the people she loves, whom she is
leaving behind. Drew Hayden Taylor, an Ojibway with an accomplished
literary career, brings his insider view of life on the reserve in his
personable and funny way." -Publisher Nobody Cries at BINGO (M)
by Dawn Dumont
"In 'Nobody Cries At Bingo', the narrator, Dawn, invites the reader to
witness first hand Dumont family life on the Okanese First Nation.
Beyond the sterotypes and clichés of Rez dogs, drinking, and bingos, the
story of a girl who loved to read begins to unfold. It is her hopes,
dreams, and indomitable humour that lay bear the beauty and love within
her family. It is her unerring eye that reveals the great bond of family
expressed in the actions and affections of her sisters, aunties,
uncles, brothers, cousins, nieces, nephews, and ultimately her
ancestors. It's all here -- life on the Rez in rich technicolour -- as
Dawn emerges from home life, through school life, and into the promise
of a great future. 'Nobody Cries At Bingo' is a book that embraces
cultural differences and does it with the great traditional medicine of
laughter." - Publisher A Stranger at Home: a true story (M) -Youth non-fiction -
by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
"Traveling to be reunited with her family in the Arctic, 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak can hardly contain her excitement. It's been two years since her parents delivered her to the school run by the dark-cloakednuns and brothers. Coming ashore, Margaret spots her family, but her mother barely recognizes her, screaming, "Not my girl." Margaret realizes she is now marked as an outsider. And Margaret is an outsider: she has forgotten the language and stories of her people, and she can't even stomach the food her mother prepares. However, Margaret gradually relearns her language and her family's way of living. Along the way, she discovers how important it is to remain true to the ways of her people -- and to herself." - Publisher Sugar Falls: a residential school story (M) - Graphic novel -
by David Alexander Robertson
"Traveling to be reunited with her family in the
Arctic, 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak can hardly contain her excitement.
It's been two years since her parents delivered her to the school run by
the dark-cloakednuns and brothers. Coming ashore, Margaret spots her
family, but her mother barely recognizes her, screaming, "Not my girl."
Margaret realizes she is now marked as an outsider. And Margaret is an
outsider: she has forgotten the language and stories of her people, and
she can't even stomach the food her mother prepares. However, Margaret
gradually relearns her language and her family's way of living. Along
the way, she discovers how important it is to remain true to the ways of
her people -- and to herself." - Publisher
I really enjoyed Motorcycles and Sweetgrass, great characters and an amusing yet thoughtful storyline.
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