By Chris Olsen

At the turn of the 20th century, New York designated the first “American Indian Day” to honor the people and cultures indigenous to the United States. In the years that followed, other states designated dates to celebrate Native American culture. Though it is not yet recognized as a federal holiday, in 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as what is now known as Native American Heritage Month.

There are many ways to honor the history, traditions and contributions of the over 9.7 million people who identify as Native American. One powerful way is exploring literature by Indigenous authors. While storytelling is deeply embedded in Native American culture, the voices of Indigenous people are grossly underrepresented in American history and in modern literature. In fact, less than 1 percent of published authors in the U.S. identify as American Indian/Alaskan Native/First Nation/Native American.

In celebration of Native Heritage Month, consider reading and sharing these books by Indigenous women authors. When you purchase these titles from Publish Her’s shop on Bookshop.org, you help fund publishing and program grants for underrepresented authors.

Photo: Sasha LaPointe

About the Author

Chris Olsen is a book designer, publisher, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.

About Publish Her

Publish Her is a female-founded publisher dedicated to educating authors and elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all.