Native Peoples of Wisconsin

Books for Children and Teenagers

Compiled by the staff of the Cooperative Children's Book Center
School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Last Updated: May, 2008

This listing is meant to identify books the CCBC has received about Wisconsin Native peoples. It is an identification record only; not a recommended list. Books for chidren and young adults that have been specifically recommended by the CCBC are indicated by the term "CCBC Choice" at the start of the book description.

American Indian Heritage of the Region || Ancient Peoples || Folklore and Traditional Liberature

Contemporary Wisconsin Indian Nations:

Books That Include Wisconsin Indian Nations || Anishinabe/Ojibway/Chippewa
Ho-Chunk/Winnebago || Menominee || Mohican/Stockbridge-Munsee || Oneida || Potawatomi Recommended Print Resources || Related Links

American Indian Heritage of the Region

Cohen, Fay G., and Jeanne Heuving. TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY: INDIAN TRIBES IN U.S. HISTORY. Daybreak Star (P.O. Box 99100, Seattle, WA 98199), 1980. 44 pages.

CCBC Choice: This concise history of Indian governments from before European contact to the present includes numerous black-and-white photographs, maps, and materials in highlighted boxes with additional information. Special accounts in boxes in this easy-to-read book describe the Black Hawk War involving the Sauk (Sac) and Fox Nations and others, and the Menominee Termination effort by the U.S. government. (Nonfiction; Ages 11-15)

Krull, Kathleen. ONE NATION, MANY TRIBES: HOW KIDS LIVE IN MILWAUKEE'S INDIAN COMMUNITY. Photographs by David Hautzig. (A World of My Own) Lodestar, 1995. 48 pages. (0-525-67440-3)

CCBC Choice: Eleven-year-old Thirza and twelve-year-old Shawnee are students at the Milwaukee Community Indian School, which is distinctive for a number of reasons discussed in the text: its urban location, its funding through Potawatomi bingo hall profits, and its inclusion of five Wisconsin tribes in the student body. Within this context, both children are presented as unique individuals: Shawnee dreams of becoming an architect and returning to the reservation, while Thirza, an aspiring actress, is headed for Broadway or Hollywood. Color photographs show the two children in their day-to-day activities in and out of school. (Nonfiction; Ages 8-12)

Doan, Marry Anne and Jim Stevens, editors. DREAMING HISTORY: A COLLECTION OF WISCONSIN NATIVE-AMERICAN WRITING. Prairie Oak Press, 1995. 120 pages. (1-879483-26-2)

This compilation of songs and stories, all strongly influenced by the writers’ Native American roots and oral traditions, speak to the connection between humans and Mother Earth. Poetry and prose are arranged into four sections: Listening to the Voices, Living the World, Teaching and Prayers, and Talking Indian. Contributing authors include contemporary indigenous writers, such as Kimberly M. Blaeser, Charlene Vlusehorse, and Kenneth Brickman Metoxen. A list of further reading is in the back.

Lawson, Marion. PROUD WARRIOR: THE STORY OF BLACK HAWK. Illustrated by W.T. Wars. Hawthorn Books, 1968. 175 pages.

Black Hawk, the great Sauk chief, has too often been portrayed as a "savage" enemy of the white settlers, accused of breaking treaties and murdering innocent victims. Lawson bases her biography on Black Hawk's autobiography and other sources from the period; she presents a comparatively more sympathetic view toward Black Hawk's life, showing some of the incidents which provoked Black Hawk's actions. (Nonfiction; Ages 12-14)

Loew, Patty. INDIAN NATIONS OF WISCONSIN: HISTORIES OF ENDURANCE AND RENEWAL, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2001. 148 pages

CCBC Choice: This unprecedented published history of Wisconsin's Indian nations for the general public is a wonderful resource for older teens and for teachers of any grade. Patty Loew, an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, writes in her introduction, "This is by no means an exhaustive study of the tribes in the state. It is my earnest attempt, however, to explore Wisconsin's rich native heritage in a collection of compact tribal histories. . . . I confined my discussion to the twelve Indian nations . . . whose presence predated Wisconsin statehood and who have maintained a continuous residence here." Those nations are the Ho-Chunk, the Menominee, the Potawatomi, the Oneida, the Mohican, the Brothertown, and the six bands of Ojibwe. An opening chapter examines the early history of native peoples in the state, including the Effigy Mound Builders and the Mississippians, noting the connections of these cultures to contemporary Wisconsin native peoples. The book documents the impact of European arrival in a general way in the second chapter. Subsequent chapters discuss individual tribes and their histories, including the too-often-tragic impact of white settlement, but also the richness of tribal cultures and traditions. Loew emphasizes the uniqueness of each nation. She also addresses the challenge of documenting a chronological "history" of peoples who organize their pasts thematically and for whom "stories unfold in a circular fashion." This important work fills a void in the histories of many of Wisconsin's native peoples. (Nonfiction; Age 14-adult)

Loew, Patty. NATIVE PEOPLES OF WISCONSIN. ((The New Badger History Series) Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2003. 168 pages

Loew's adapation of her adult work Indian Nations of Wisconsin follows the same format of that publication, but the text has been modified to make it accessible to children. Additional information in this welcome and essential volume includes brief profiles of several contemporary Native children and adults in Wisconsin. (Nonfiction; Ages 9-14)

Shemie, Bonnie. HOUSES OF BARK: TIPI, WIGWAM AND LONGHOUSE. (Native Dwellings: Woodland Indians) Tundra, 1990. 24 pages. (0-88776-246-8)

CCBC Choice: Traditional architectural styles used by Wisconsin tribes, including the Oneida and the ojibwayy, are concisely described and illustrated with detailed colored pencil drawings. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-11)

Waldman, Carl. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. Illustrated by Molly Braun. Facts on File, 1988. 293 pages. (0-8160-1451-3)

A reliable, accessible compendium of general information about over 150 tribes includes the sort of basic facts on every Wisconsin tribe (including Stockbridge-Munsee) that fourth-grade report writers want to know. (Nonfiction; Ages 8-16)

Ancient Peoples

Holliday, Diane Young and Bobbie Malone. DIGGING AND DISCOVERY: WISCONSIN ARCHAEOLOGY. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1997. 80 pages. (pbk: 0-87020- 291-X)

A booklet illustrated with unique visual information demonstrates the discipline of archaeology and informs readers about past centuries in the region of North America now known as Wisconsin. According to a publication announcement "it moves readers from the glacial times of the Paleo-Indians, to the stratified socieites of the Woodland era, through the historic maneuvers of French, British, and ultimately US settlers." Nonfiction; (Ages 7-11)

La Pierre, Yvette. NATIVE AMERICAN ROCK ART: MESSAGES FROM THE PAST. Illustrated by Lois Sloan. Thomasson-Grant, 1994. 48 pages. (1-56566-064-1)

CCBC Choice: Petroglyphs and pictographs--carvings and paintings on rocks--done by the earliest human inhabitants of North America can be found from Nova Scotia to the deserts of the Southwest. The author exmaines what is known about this early art and how these facts were determined. Among the "Sites to Visit" listed in the final chapter is Roche a Cri State Park in Wisconsin. (Nonfiction; Ages 8-12)

Lyttle, Richard B. PEOPLE OF THE DAWN: EARLY MAN IN THE AMERICAS. Illustrated by Heidy Fogel. Atheneum, 1980. 181 pages.(0-689-30750-0)

This very readable, scientific approach to the archaeological history of the Americas discusses Stone Age sites, the influence of trade routes, European explorations, and explains scientific time dating by the study of stone tools, the presence of carbon 14, and the use of amino acid. Clear drawings and maps extend the text. A chapter on the Mound Builders of the Hopewell and Mississippian cultures relates to Wisconsin. (Nonfiction; Ages 10-14)

Speerstra, Karen. THE EARTHSHAPERS. Illustrated by George Armstrong. Naturegraph (Box 1075, Happy Camp, CA 96309), 1980. 80 pages. (pbk: 0-87961-109-X)

CCBC Choice: A fictional glimpse of the people now known by some as the Mound Builders, The Earthshapers features the daily world of a young female protagonist named Yellow Moon, who lives in A.D. 900 in a place that is now called Effigy Mounds, overlooking the Mississippi as it flows between Iowa and Wisconsin. The story is set between the Hopewellian and Mississippian cultures, emphasizing what archaeologists know about the complex civilization of that time and place. Aztalan is the home of two persons important to Yellow Moon. (Fiction; Age 10 and older)

Folklore and Traditional Literature

Bruchac, Joseph and Gayle Ross, retellers. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED THE MOON: TALES FROM NATIVE NORTH AMERICA. Fulcrum, 1994. 118 pages. (0-816-73480-1)

In this companion to his Flying with the Eagle, Racing with the Great Bear, Bruchac collects sixteen tales from Native American tribes all over the continent, focusing on the role of women in traditional Indian cultures. The stories are categorized into four sections according to region – the Northeast, the Southeast, the Southwest, and the Northwest. (Folklore; Ages 9-12)

Ehlert, Lois. MOLE'S HILL. Harcourt, Brace, 1994. 32 pages. (0-15-255116-6)

CCBC Choice: Fox, Skunk and Raccoon have a problem. Mole's hill is in the way of the path they're planning to make to the pond before the next winter. Because Mole is attached to her home and doesn't want to move it, she thinks of a plan to help her three neighbors appreciate the beauty of her hill. A perfectly spare retelling of a traditional Seneca tale is appropriately illustrated with brilliantly colored, stylized art inspired by sewn beadwork and ribbon appliqué from Woodland Indian traditions. (Folklore; Ages 3-9)

Ross, Gayle, reteller. THE LEGEND OF THE WINDIGO: A TALE OF NATIVE NORTH AMERICA. Illustrated by Murv Jacob. Dial, 1996. 32 pages. (0-8037-1898-5)

CCBC Choice: Trouble comes to the ancient inhabitants of a North American woodland village when a Windigo arrives. This "giant creature made of stone with eyes like deep caves that hypnotize human beings" also feeds on them, too. Although the people outwitted it then, their method causes the Windigo to exist now in the form of mosquitoes. It continues to eat humans--one bite at a time. Jacob's detailed, intricately patterned artwork suggest a dark forest full of activity. His illustrations were rendered in acrylics on watercolor paper. In an endnote Ross tells about the time when she first began to think about this trickster tale. She was with Utah Phillips and other storytellers gathered about a Northern Wisconsin campfire. (Folklore; Ages 7-10)

Spooner, Michael and Lolita Taylor. OLD MESHIKEE AND THE LITTLE CRABS. Illustrated by John Hart. Henry Holt, 1996. 32 pages. (0-8050-3487-0)

Lolita Taylor is a member of the Eagle clan, Fond-du-Lac band of the Ojibway nation, and a local historian, teacher and storyteller for three generations. She and her first cousin Michael Spooner tell the Ojibway tale of how the sand crabs try to get rid of Turtle's drumming. Observant readers of this picture book tale will notice some tools or ways of doing things from the traditional life around the Great Lakes. (Folklore; Ages 8-10)

Manabozho

Coatsworth, Emerson, and David Coatsworth. THE ADVENTURES OF NANABUSH: OJIBWAY INDIAN STORIES. Illustrated by Francis Kagige. Told by Sam Snake, Chief Elijah Yellowhead, Alder York, David Simcoe and Annie King. McElderry/Atheneum, 1980. 85 pages. (0-689-50162-5)

CCBC Choice: Full-color paintings rendered by an Ojibway artist illustrate a collection of tales about the trickster Nanabush (a.k.a. Manabozho) collected from several American Indian storytellers. (Folklore; Ages 5-11)

Greene, Jacqueline Dembar. MANABOZHO'S GIFTS: THREE CHIPPEWA TALES. Illustrated by Jennifer Hewitson. Houghton Mifflin, 1994. 42 pages. (0-395-69251-2)

Manabozho is known by various names in similar tales told by other North American peoples. Regardless of his name, this hero is credited for ridding the land of monsters, teaching food-gathering skills, bringing such gifts as fire and wild rice, and showing the people how to share the land with all living creatures and plants. In these tales Manabozho steals fire, finds rice and saves the rose. (Folklore; Ages 9-12)

Johnston, Basil H. BY CANOE AND MOCCASIN: SOME NATIVE PLACE NAMES OF THE GREAT LAKES. Illustrated by David Beyer. Waapoone (Lakefield, Ontario, Canada KOL 2HO), 1986. 45 pages. (pbk: 0-9692185-1-6)

CCBC Choice: Nine traditional tales about the Ojibway hero, Nanabush, recount his travels throughout the Great Lakes region defending his people from such enemies as the giant beaver, the giant skunk, and the giant sturgeon. Origins of place names such as Winnipeg, Milwaukee, and Chicago are integrated into the stories with brief descriptive phrases, in accordance with Ojibway practice of naming a place for its physical features. In addition to providing engaging stories about Nanabush's adventures, this collection also conveys a sense of the long, rich history of places familiar to contemporary North American children. A pronunciation key for Ojibway words is included. (Folklore; Age 10 and older)

Martinson, David. MANABOZHO AND THE BULLRUSHES. Illustrated by John Peyton. Anishinabe Reading Materials (Indian Education Department, Central Administration Building, Lake and Second Street, Duluth, MN 55802), 1976. 34 pages

The trickster hero spends an entire evening showing off his dancing skills for an uppity group of strangers, only to find by the light of dawn that the "snobs" were bullrushes swaying in the breeze. Teacher David Martinson has written a remarkable easy reader by retelling a traditional tale. (Folklore; Age 5-7)

McLellan, Joseph. THE BIRTH OF NANABOSHO. Illustrated by Jim Kirby. Pemmican Publications (Unit 2-1635 Burrows Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2X 0T1), 1989. 44 pages. (0-921827-00-8)

On a cold winter evening a boy and his sister spend the night at their grandparents' house. After dinner, once the dishes are done and the floor has been swept, grandfather tells them the story of the birth of Nanabosho. Contemporary scenes are illustrated in black and white, while scenes from the traditional tale are depicted in full color. The same device is used to retell other Manabozho tales in Joseph McLellan's Nanabosho Steals Fire (Pemmican, 1990) and Nanabosho Dances (Pemmican, 1991). (Folklore;Ages 4-8)

McLellan, Joseph. NANABOSHO, SOARING EAGLE AND GIANT STURGEON. Illustrated by Rhian Brynjolson. Pemmican Publications (Unit 2-1635 Burrows Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2X 0T1), 1993. 46 pages. (0-921827-23-7)

CCBC Choice: When two Ojibway girls go fishing with their grandfather, they brag about the number of fish they'll catch as they ride in their grandfather's truck to the lake. After listening to the two girls, grandfather shares a Nanabosho story about a time the trickster hero and his friend Soaring Eagle were greedy when they stocked up on fish for the winter. Engaging watercolor illustrations capture the humor and the wisdom of this story within a story. They even take the story one step further by including border illustrations which depict the challenges faced by an older brother who was left home to do the laundry. (Folklore; Ages 4-8)

Contemporary Indian Nations in Wisconsin

Books that Include Wisconsin Indian Nations

Carlson, Lori Marie, editor. MOCCASIN THUNDER: AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES FOR TODAY. HarperCollins, 2005. 156 pages. (0-066-23957-5)

Carlson compiles ten contemporary short stories by Native American about teens coming of age on the reservation and in the city. Contributors include Sherman Alexie, Joseph Bruchac, Louise Erdrich and others. Finding one’s identity and the importance of family relationships are recurrent themes throughout the book. The foreword includes a note from the editor and an introduction by Helen Maynor Schierbeck, a noted writer on American Indian education. (Fiction; Ages 14 and up)

Ochoa, Annette, Betsy Franco, and Traci L. Gourdine, editors. NIGHT IS GONE, DAY IS STILL COMING: STORIES AND POEMS BY AMERICAN INDIAN TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS. Candlewick Press, 2003. 145 pages. (0-7636-1518-8)

Fifty-eight young writers from over twenty Native American tribes contribute short narratives and poems to this compilation for young readers. Ranging in age from eleven to mid-twenties, the writers discuss topics including mourning family deaths, tribal rituals, exploitive stereotypes, alcoholism, racism, family life, school, romantic relationships, personal identity, life on a reservation, heritage, and other contemporary issues in the lives of young Native Americans. (Fiction, ages 12-adult)

Shoulders, Debbie and Michael Shoulders. D IS FOR DRUM: A NATIVE AMERICAN ALPHABET. Illustrated by Irving Toddy. Thomson Gale, 2006. 40 pages. (1-585-36274-3)

The Shoulderses present an A-Z introduction to the customs and cultures of Native Americans, accompanied by Toddy’s colorful illustrations. Keywords include canoe, kachina, Osage orange tree, and totem pole.

Anishinabe / Ojibway / Chippewa

Adare, Sierra. OJIBWE. (Native American Peoples) Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2003. 32 pages. (0-8368-3667-7)

Adare’s narrative offers an overview of the Ojibwe tribe with attention given to origins, history, traditional ways of life and contemporary tribal presence. Color and black-and-white illustrations and photographs accompany the text, and a timeline, glossary, resource list, and activity ideas add additional information. Many facts and supplementary information offered in sidebars and text boxes, including cultural practices and tribe leaders. (Non-fiction; Ages 8-12)

Bainbridge, Dee. THE ROBIN. Illustrated by Eva Petoskey. First American Prevention Center, 1998. 29 pages. (0-9657888-0-6)

A fable of how the robin came to be, as told by members of the Chippewa tribe. Opichi, a young Anishinabeg boy, must go on a vision quest, to find out what his destiny will be. But after years of trying, he still does not receive a vision. His father Manoomin, who wishes for Opichi to become a great warrior, sends him on more quests. But one day, to Manoomin’s great sorrow, Opichi disappears. The only comfort Manoomin finds is the appearance of a little robin, whose cheerful song eases his sadness. (Ages 4-7)

Benton-Benai, Edward. THE MISHOMIS BOOK: THE VOICE OF THE OJIBWAY. Illustrated by Joe Liles. Indian Country Communications (Rt 2, Box 2900-A, Hayward WI 54843), 1981. 114 pages.

CCBC Choice: Mishomis means grandfather, who tells these stories, teachings, and accounts of history from the Ojibway perspective directly to young listeners. He begins with the story of the creation of the earth and ends with the present day. Myths, legends, and history are blended with details of cultural traditions, beliefs, and means of survival, creating an integrated, satisfying whole. The accompanying drawings give visual reference to Mishomis's stories. The first five chapters of The Mishomis Book were reissued in 1992 as separate paperback coloring books aimed at school or home study use. Each coloring book includes one story, illustrated vocabulary, study aids and questions, and essay topics. The coloring book tales are "The Ojibway Creation Story," "Original Man Walks the Earth," "Original Man and his Grandmother, No-ko-mis," "The Earth's First People," and "The Great Flood." The coloring books come as a set. Available from the same source is a paperbound short tale by Benton-Banai, "Generation to Generation, A Short Story...A Native Tradition," about Joe Cloud and his father, son, and grandfather Aunah Quad. Benton-Banai is of the Ojibway Nation, Fish Clan, and Lac Courte Oreille Band, and is active in Indian education. (Nonfiction; Age 10 and older)

Bierhorst, John, ed. SONGS OF THE CHIPPEWA. Illustrated by Joe Servello. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974. 47 pages. (0-374-37145-8)

Easy arrangements of 17 traditional Chippewa songs are adapted from the collections of Frances Densmore and Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. The original Chippewa words are used in a few of the songs, while many use English translations. Chants, songs, and melodies are included. (Nonfiction; Age 8 and older)

BOOZHOO: COME PLAY WITH US. Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, 2002. 14 pages. (0-970-94431-4)

This boardbook greets children of varied backgrounds in the Chippewa language. Each page introduces a new word – “odamino” means “play,” for example, and “wiijiiwaagan” means “friend.” (Nonfiction; Ages 3-6)

Erdrich, Lise. BEARS MAKE ROCK SOUP AND OTHER STORIES. Children’s Book Press, 2002. 32 pages. (0-89239-172-3)

CCBC Choice: Read-aloud short story collection highlighting the mutually-beneficial relationship of humans and animals. A collaboration of women from two tribes, the Oneida and Ojibway, the tales draw from both traditions. Illustrated with color paintings. (Fiction; Ages 7-adult)

Erdrich, Louise. THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE. Hyperion, 1999. 235 pages (0-7868-2241-4) $15.49

CCBC Choice: A novel that moves with grace and certainty through the seasons ties the cycle of life, death, and renewal to a seven-year-old Objiwa girl and her family during the mid-19th century. The continued advance of white traders and settlers into lands once inhabited exclusively by Native peoples is bringing change to the lives of the ojibway, including those on the Lake Superior island (today know as Madeleine Island) where Omakayas and her family live. Still, Omakayas's world is defined by the daily and seasonal details of life with her family. When two white traders who arrive in the middle of winter bring smallpox to her village, Omakayas is physically untouched, but emotionally devastated. Louise Erdrich's moving historical novel is an important chronicle of ojibway culture and U.S and American-Indian history. This lyrically told story never strays from a child's emotional understanding--of grief and heartbreak, as well as joy and wonder. (Fiction; Ages 8-12)

Erdrich, Louise. THE GAME OF SILENCE. HarperCollins Publishers, 2005. 256 pages. (0-06-029789-1)

CCBC Choice: In The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich introduced young readers to Omakayas, a seven-year-old Ojibwe girl in the mid-19th century living on what is now called Madeleine Island. That lyrical novel chronicled one year in the life of Omakayas, through seasons marked by both harmony and hardship. Now Omakayas is nine winters old. As summer starts, a worn-out group of elders, women and children from far-off villages arrive on the shores of their island. They were forced from their homes by the chimookomanag, the white people. Even as they seek refuge within Omakayas’s community, they warn the adults in the village that they will soon face the same fate. Omakayas cannot begin to comprehend the idea of leaving the land she has always called home. As the cycles of the seasons turn and turn again, the villagers await word from the small group of men who’ve gone off in search of news, and answers. Meanwhile, they continue with the rhythm of their lives. For Omakayas, that means working and playing within the context of her immediate family, and the larger family that her community represents. From mischievous Pinch, Omakayas’s younger brother; to spirited, unruly Two-Strike Girl; to fierce, independent Old Tallow; to loving, wise Nokomis, Omakayas’s grandmother, the characters live and breathe in a story that is full of humor, richness and heart. Through it all, Erdrich never strays from the center, where a young girl’s growing awareness of change—in herself and in the world around her, and —both complicate and facilitate her understanding of what is happening as she faces a future filled with uncertainty. (Fiction; Ages 8-12)

Ernst, Kathleen. TROUBLE AT FORT LA POINTE. (American Girl History Mysteries) Pleasant Company Publications, 2000. 163 pages. (0-58485-087-6)

In the summer of 1732, twelve-year-old Suzette, her French voyageur father, and her Ojibwe mother are living on the coast of Lake Superior near the French fur trading center of Fort La Pointe. Suzette’s father enters a fur competition with hopes being able to use the winnings to winter with his family in lieu of traveling to Montreal with the voyageurs. When a bale of pelts is stolen, the competition is cancelled and Suzette’s father is a suspect. Suzette and her friends act as detectives, finding clues and searching for the true culprit using a combination of French and Ojibwe tactics. French and Ojibwe glossaries and a historical note (“Peek Into the Past”) conclude the volume. Black-and-white etchings begin each chapter and color paintings, maps and photographs illustrate the story and historical endnotes. (Fiction; Ages 8-12)

Hartman, Karen. DREAM CATCHER: THE LEGEND, THE LADY. THE WOMAN. Illustrated by Louise Bussiere. Weeping Heart Publications (N1634 Lakeshore Dr., Campbellsport, WI 53010), 1994. 72 pages. (0-9635204-1-5)

CCBC Choice: Hartman describes learning to make dream catchers from an Ojibway elder years ago and relates a story the woman told her, passed down through the generations, of how dream catchers came to be made by the Ojibway people. She then provides a step-by-step account of how she makes a dream catcher, including explanations of what each part symbolizes. (Nonfiction; Ages 6-11)

Ilko, John A. AN ANNOTATED LISTING OF OJIBWA CHIEFS, 1690-1890. Whitson, 1995. 79 pages. (pbk: 0-87875-462-8)

Names and brief biographical information for more than 500 ojibway leaders have been meticulously compiled from numerous print sources for this invaluable resource. (Nonfiction; Age 12 and older)

Jaakola, Lyz. OUR JOURNEY. Illustrated by Karen Savage-Blue. Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, 2004. 16 pages. (0-970-94430-6)

Lake Superior Chippewa people greet the day and introduce the words for “hello” and “thank you” in this board book. (Nonfiction; Ages 3-6)

Keeshig-Tobias, Lenore. BINESHIINH DIBAAJMOWIN/BIRD TALK. Illustrated by Polly Keeshig-Tobias. Translated by Shirley Pheasant Williams. Sister Vision/Black Women and Women of Colour Press (P.O. Box 217, Station E, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6H 4E2), 1991. 32 pages. (pbk: 0-920813-89-5)

CCBC Choice: When Momma and her two daughters move from an Ojibway reservation to a city, young Polly has a bad day at school when her classmates play cowboys and Indians and tease her about being an Indian. Momma manages to soothe Polly's hurt feelings and restore her sense of pride by reminding her of some of the things Mishomis (grandfather) taught her about her heritage. Told in first-person from the point of view of Polly's older sister, the bilingual (Ojibway/English) text is accompanied by simple black-and-white line drawings. The straight-forward, poignant story is based on a childhood experience of the book's young illustrator. (Picture book; Ages 5-9)

King, Sandra. SHANNON: AN OJIBWAY DANCER. Photographs by Catherine Whipple. (We Are Still Here) Lerner, 1993. 48 pages. (0-8225-2652-2) (pbk: 0-8225-9643-1)

CCBC Choice: A color photoessay depicts the life of a 13-year-old Ojibway girl, Shannon Anderson, who lives with her grandmother, sisters and cousins in Minneapolis. Shannon's life is firmly rooted in her cultural heritage. A fancy dancer belonging to two drum and dance groups, she goes through detailed preparations to get her intricate costumes ready for performances, but she is proud of her skills in the traditional ways of her people. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-11)

Lowden, Stephanie Golightly. TIME OF THE EAGLE: A STORY OF AN OJIBWE WINTER. Blue Horse Books, 2004. 127 pages. (1-883953-34-0)

In 1781, thirteen-year-old Autumn Dawn and her six-year-old brother Coyote Boy are forced to flee their family’s Ojibwa lodge when smallpox threatens their native community. Relying on their courage, resourcefulness, and survival skills, the siblings search for their relatives and the safety of their remote location. Includes historical notes, glossary, and annotated resources list. (Fiction; Ages 8-12)

Lucas, Eileen. THE OJIBWAS: PEOPLE OF THE NORTHERN FORESTS. Millbrook, 1994. 48 pages. (1-56294-313-8)

Color and black-and-white reproductions of paintings and photographs illustrate this examination of Objiwa culture that looks at aspects of their lives from the time of their earliest settlements on the shores of Lake Superior, after migrating from the northern Atlantic coastal region, up through contemporary ojibway people living today. Includes a glossary, listing of important dates, bibliography and index. (Nonfiction; Ages 11-13)

Lund, Bill. THE OJIBWA INDIANS. Bridgestone/Capstone, 1997. 24 pages. (1-56065-481-3)

Although the author indicates that ojibway Indians live in North America today, own casinos and may legally practice food gathering in the traditional ways, the overall impression is one of history and the past. (Nonfiction; Ages 6-9)

Martinson, David. REAL WILD RICE. Illustrations by Vince Cody. Anishinabe Reading Materials (Indian Education Department, Central Administration Building, Lake and Second Street, Duluth, MN 55802), 1975. 20 pages

An outstanding easy reader created especially for Ojibway children by teacher David Martinson lyrically details a young boy's canoe trip to harvest wild rice, using short words, rhyme and repetition. (Easy Reader; Ages 5-7)

Osinski, Alice. THE CHIPPEWA. (A New True Book) Children's Press, 1987. 45 pages. (0-516-01230-4)

The history, beliefs and traditions of Chippewa Indians are presented in uncomplicated sentences and large type, supplemented with glossary, color photographs, and index. The Chippewa settled in what is now called Wisconsin and in the Great Lakes area. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-10)

Osofsky, Audrey. DREAMCATCHER. Illustrated by Ed Young. Orchard, 1992. 32 pages. (0-531-08588-0)

CCBC Choice: "...A dream net for baby / like a small spiderweb / spun of nettle-stalk twine / stained dark red with the bark of wild plum..." hung by the Ojibway people of centuries ago on babies' cradleboards. Such a net served to catch bad dreams, while allowing good dreams to flow on through to the sleeping child. Young's decorative page borders pay tribute to the floral patterns of Ojibway artists and his images of clothing and other objects allude to this cultural history. (Picture book; Ages 4-8)

Pfaff, Tim. Paths of the People: THE OJIBWE IN THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY. Eau Claire, Wis: Chippewa Valley Museum Press: 1993 (pbk: 0-9636191-0-1) 100 pages

A highly visual reconstruction of native settlement in the Chippewa River Valley unfolds some of the conflict between tribes over resources, evidence of early ojibway Indian relations with Europeans, and the record of domination by the European settlers. Because Pfaff's text does not "freeze" this history in the preceding centuries, the later outcomes of treaties established in the 19th century are part of his account. Based on an extensively researched ten-year exhibition opened in 1991, this unique volume includes valuable archival maps and photos not found in any other publication. (Nonfiction;Ages 9-14)

Plain, Ferguson. LITTLE WHITE CABIN. Pemmican Publications (Unit 2 - 1635 Burrows Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2X OT1), 1992. 24 pages. (pbk: 0-921827-26-1)

Waaboozoons is an Ojibway boy who passes by a little white cabin nearly every day when he's out walking. Some days he sees an elder known as Ol' Danny sitting on the cabin's front porch and when Waaboozoons sees him, the boy always calls out "Aniish naa?" (How are you?). He gets used to the fact that Ol' Danny never responds to his greeting. Much to the boy's surprise, however, one day the old man answers him and from that day on the two become good friends, with Ol' Danny teaching Waaboozoons much about the old ways. A quiet picture story, illustrated in distinctive dark-blue-and-white paintings by a self-taught Ojibway artist, shows the importance of respect for elders in the Native American value system. (Picture book; Ages 5-8)

Qualey, Marsha. REVOLUTIONS OF THE HEART. Houghton Mifflin, 1993. 184 pages. (0-395-64168-3)

Racism and American Indian treaty rights are at the center of this novel set in northern Wisconsin. Seventeen-year-old Cory Knutson, who is white, is going out with Mac, who is Cree and Ojibway. The tension this creates in her family and at school escalates when spearfishing season starts and bigotry turns into violence. (Fiction; Ages 11-14)

Regguinti, Gordon. THE SACRED HARVEST: OJIBWAY WILD RICE GATHERING. Photographs by Dale Kakkak. (We Are Still Here) Lerner, 1992. 48 pages. (0-8225-2650-6) (pbk: 0-8225-9620-2)

CCBC Choice: Narrative by an Ojibway writer with color photographs by a Menominee photographer recount 11-year-old Glen Jackson's first time gathering wild rice with his father near their home on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota. In addition to showing the harvest from start to finish, the author continually links the tradition to Glen's Ojibway heritage with the teachings of his elders, placing the harvest in a broader cultural context. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-13)

Rendon, Marcie R. POWWOW SUMMER: A FAMILY CELEBRATES THE CIRCLE OF LIFE. Photographs by Cheryl Walsh Bellville. Carolrhoda, 1996. 48 pages. (0-87614-986-7) (pbk: 1-57505-011-0)

CCBC Choice: Marcie Rendon's text and Cheryl Walsh Bellville's many color photographs look at some of the ways in which one Anishinabe family celebrates the circle of life: by opening their arms and their hearts to welcome foster children into their family, by keeping close ties among the generations, by grieving together in the aftermath of a death. The Downwind family--parents, children, foster children--is profiled over the course of a summer, during which time they go on the powwow trail, attending two gatherings where they become part of a larger community. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-11)

Rosinsky, Natalie M. THE OJIBWA AND THEIR HISTORY. (We the People) Compass Point, 2005. 48 pages. (0-7565-0843-6)

An overview of the Ojibwe people historically and in contemporary times includes brief discussion of AIM and 20th century leaders such as Winona LaDuke. The narrative is accompanied by both black-and-white and color photographs. (Non-fiction; Ages 7-11)

Tanner, Helen A. THE OJIBWA. (Indians of North America) Chelsea House, 1992. 119 pages. (1-55546-721-0)

A thorough introduction to the history of the Ojibway people is illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs showing people past and present. In addition to providing basic information, this volume also shows the impact of conflict with white residents over time. (Nonfiction; Age 10 and older)

Waboose, Jan Bourdeau. MORNING ON THE LAKE. Illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Kid's Can Press, 1998. 32 pages (1-55074-373-2)

CCBC Choice: When an Ojibway boy spends a day in the company of Mishomis (grandfather), the two of them both claim morning, noon, and night as their favorite time of day. In the morning on the lake in a birchbark canoe, they see a family of loons; hiking up a cliff at noon, they see an eagle; and walking through the forest at night, they see a pack of wolves. The boy is initially frightened by each sight but he follows the example of his grandfather and stays perfectly quiet and still. After each animal has passed, Mishomis interprets cultural messages for the boy, thereby teaching him about his heritage. (Picture book; Ages 5-8)

Wittstock, Laura Waterman. ININATIG'S GIFT OF SUGAR: TRADITIONAL NATIVE SUGARMAKING. Photographs by Dale Kakkak. (We Are Still Here) Lerner, 1993. 48 pages. (0-8225-2653-0)

CCBC Choice: The Ojibway tradition of maple sugarmaking and thanking the trees each spring continues at a sugarbush outside of Minneapolis, where every year children and adults alike come to learn sugarmaking from a 73-year-old Ojibway man. Text and photographs follow the sugarmaking process step-by-step. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-11)

Ho-Chunk / Winnebago

Hieb, Jane A., editor. VISIONS AND VOICES: WINNEBAGO ELDERS SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN. Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council (Box 45, Independence, WI, 54747), 1994. 88 pages.

Winnebago history and continuing cultural traditions are related by elders in this compilation of interviews conducted by at-risk Winnebago youth in the Black River Falls area in a project sponsored by the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Commission. Historical and contemporary photographs and drawings by Winnebago youth illustrate the volume. A bibliography is included. (Nonfiction; Ages 9-14)

Hunter, Sally M. FOUR SEASONS OF CORN: A WINNEBAGO TRADITION. Photographs by Joe Allen. (We Are Still Here) Lerner, 1996. 40 pages. (0-8225-2658-1) (pbk: 0-8225-9741-1)

CCBC Choice: Planting in the spring; tending in the summer; harvesting, storing and giving thanks in the fall; food throughout the winter. These are the four seasons of corn for the Winnebago, or Hochunk, people. Twelve-year-old Russell, a member of Hochunk Nation who lives in St. Paul, is learning about the importance of corn from his grandfather, who takes Russell, his brothers, sisters and cousins to the country each year to plant and care for a field. But the corn is more than food for the Hochunk, it is also considered a gift from the spirits. As Russell and his family give attention to the corn every season in the midst of their busy city lives, they reaffirm ties to their heritage and knowledge of the ways of their people. Text and color photographs comprise another welcome portrayal of contemporary American Indian lives. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-11)

Walker, Paul Robert. SPIRITUAL LEADERS. (American Indian Lives) Facts on File, 1994. 144 pages. (0-8160-2875-3)

Wisconsin Winnebago Mountain Wolf Woman, who was born in 1884, is one of thirteen American Indians from various tribal nations throughout North America profiled in a collection of short biographies of American Indian spiritual leaders from the 17th century into the 20th century. Includes bibliography and index. (Nonfiction; Ages 12-14)

Menominee

Bial, Raymond. THE MENOMINEE. (Lifeways series). Marshall Cavendish, 2006. 127 pages. (0-761-41903-9)

Bial discusses the Menominee’s history, customs, and beliefs, covering both ancient and contemporary ways of tribal life. The text is accompanied by many historic and modern-day photographs, paintings, and maps on glossy pages. The series also includes a timeline, a list of notable figures, a glossary, and a list of sources in each volume. (Ages 9-12)

Brescia, Bill. A'UNA. Illustrated by Patricia Klink. Daybreak Star (P.O. Box 99100, Seattle, WA 98199), 1981. 27 pages.

CCBC Choice: A'una contains instructions for 32 games and recipes from 24 North American Indian Nations, accompanied by line drawings and photographs of contemporary Indian children on the playground and in the kitchen. Menominee games and recipes are included. (Nonfiction; Ages 9-12)

Kalbacken, Joan. THE MENOMINEE. (A New True Book) Children's Press, 1994. (0-516-01054-9) 48 pages.

A large-type text examines the Menominee culture, traditions and government, both historically and today. In spite its brevity, the book includes an entire chapter on Chief Oshkosh. Illustrated primarily with contemporary and historical photographs. Includes a glossary and index. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-9)

Ourada, Patricia. THE MENOMINEE. (Indians of North America) Chelsea House, 1990. 111 pages. (1-55546-715-6)

Focusing on the history, traditions, beliefs, and especially the conflicts with white Europeans, The Menominee recounts in clear, matter-of-fact style the destructive results of the policies of the U.S. government toward the Menominee and other Indian groups whose assets and cultural values put them at odds with white expansionism. Though not written by an American Indian, this series volume deals squarely with the realities of white racism, bigotry, and paternalism. The Menominee--the Wild Rice People--were one tribe toward which the U.S. government carried out the policy of "termination" of special Indian status on reserved land. When that policy had clearly failed, the Menominee fought for and won restoration of their Indian status. (Nonfiction; Age 10 and older)

Mohican / Stockbridge-Munsee

Bowman, Eva Jean. CHIEF NINHAM: FORGOTTEN HERO. Illustrated by students of Bowler (WI) Elementary School. Muh-he-con-neew Press (N9136 Big Lake Road, Gresham,WI 54128-8955; 715-787-4427), 1999. 43 pages. (0-935790-04-7)

Illustrations from fourth grade students at Wisconsin's Bowler Elementary School chronicle the life of Mohican hero Chief Ninham. Although a memorial pays tribute to the warrior on the grounds of a New York City Park where he died in 1778, this book draws attention to the history of his people and the infringement of the colonists on their land. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-10)

Heath, Kristina. MAMA'S LITTLE ONE. Muh-He-Con-Neew Press (N9136 Big Lake Road, Gresham, WI 54128-8955), 1998. 32 pages $10.00

Mohican cultural values are lyrically expressed through a question-and-answer conversation between a mother and and her young son who is learning what's expected of him in the community at large. Based on 18th century traditional family life in which it was the custom for the head of a family to orally transmit cultural values to children each morning, the story not only gives young readers insight into Mohican traditions, but will also have meaning for today's children and their parents. (Picture book; Ages 4-7)

STORIES OF OUR ELDERS by the Youth of the Mohican Nation. Muh-He-Con-Neew Press (N9136 Big Lake Road, Gresham, WI 54128-8955), 1999. 21 pages (0-93579-06-3) $10.00

Brief biographical portraits of fourteen elders living in the Stockbridge-Munsee (Mohican) community were gathered was part of an oral history project with Mohican teenagers. Each entry is accompanied by a photograph of the elder, as well as a photo documenting the interview itself. The original voices of the teen narrators have been retained throughout. (Nonfiction; Age 9 and up)

Oneida

Duvall, Jill. THE ONEIDA. (A New True Book) Children's Press, 1991. 45 pages. (0-516-01125-1)

Although the focus of this easy-to-read series book is the New York Oneida, much of the information is pertinent to the Wisconsin branch of this tribe, as well. (Nonfiction; Ages 7-10)

Nelson, Mary Carroll. ROBERT BENNETT: THE STORY OF AN AMERICAN INDIAN. (Story of an American Indian Series) Dillon Press, 1976. 74 pages. (0-87518-108-2)

The career of the Wisconsin Oneida Indian leader who became head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1966 is summarized until the mid-1970's. Mr. Bennett was the second Native American ever to hold this position. (Nonfiction; Ages 10-14)

Orie, Sandra De Couteau, author. DID YOU HEAR WIND SING YOUR NAME? AN ONEIDA SONG OF SPRING. Illustrated by Christopher Canyon. Walker, 1995. 32 pages. (0-8027-8350-3)

CCBC Choice:A poem from Wisconsin Oneida writer Sandra De Coteau Orie celebrates the coming of spring with questions that invite children to observe and appreciate nature's gifts. "Did you see / the White Birch standing tall among the Darkwoods / and the greening of the Aspen saplings?" Orie uses elements of nature significant to her Oneida culture to mark spring's arrival, explaining their meaning in an author's note. Christopher Canyon's paintings are filled with the small wonders of nature. (Picture book; Ages 4-9)

Stone, Amy M. ONEIDA. (Native American Peoples) Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2005. 32 pages. (0-8368-4220-0)

This factual book presents an overview of the Oneida tribe, including information on the tribe’s origins, inclusion in the Iroquois Confederacy, traditions, and contemporary lifestyles. A time line, glossary, index, partially-annotated additional resources section and “things to think about and do” offer summation and additional information. Color and black-and-white photographs, maps, and drawings illustrate the text throughout, and sidebars and text boxes offer supplementary details. (Non-fiction; Ages 8-12)

Also see Bears Make Rock Soup by Lise Erdrich in the Ojibway section.

Potawatomi

Gibson, Karen Bush. THE POTAWATOMI. (Native Peoples) Bridgestone Books, 2003. 24 pages. (0-7368-1368-3)

In this overview of the Potawatomi tribe, facts about heritage and culture, including history, modern lifestyles, and religious beliefs are illustrated with color and black-and-white maps and photographs. Includes a Potawatomi story and an in-depth description of the tribal government and traditional ceremonies. Instructions for creating a Potawatomi game, a glossary, an index, and sources for more information are offered as end notes. (Non-fiction; Ages 7-10)

Powell, Suzanne I. THE POTAWATOMI. (First Book) Franklin Watts, 1997. 63 pages. 0-531-20268-2

Recounts the history and describes cultural aspects such as food, clothing, and tools in a clear, straightforward manner. The final chapter is devoted to an account of the Potawatomi people today. (Nonfiction; Age 8 and older)

Recommended Print Resources

De Usabel, Frances and Jane A. Roeber. AMERICAN INDIAN RESOURCE MANUAL. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 1992. 147 pages. (pbk: no ISBN) Telephone: Wisconsin DPI, 1-800-243-8782.

American Indian educators, subject specialists and materials specialists from Wisconsin reviewed the print materials and non-print media for children and adults recommended in a publication created for public libraries but equally useful at all levels for schools. Individuals involved in shaping the manual include Janice Beaudin, Judy Cornelius, Ida Nemec, Kimberly Blaeser, Dorothy Davids, Ruth Gudinas, Kathleen T. Horning and David Wrone. First-pick books are designated. Books from small Indian-owned-and-managed publishers are included. Information about evaluation issues opens the book. A human resources directory provides a unique feature. Although there is a Wisconsin emphasis throughout, much of the information is essential for educators in all parts of the U.S.A.

Kuipers, Barbara J. AMERICAN INDIAN REFERENCE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. 2nd Edition. Libraries Unlimited, 1995. 230 pages. (1-56308-258-6)
An outstanding study of the multiplicity of published books of information (nonfiction books) "about" American Indians yielded this annotated listing of recommended books for children and teenagers organized by Dewey Decimal classification numbers. The title may be misleading, in that the books are standard trade books, not encyclopedias and other standard reference books. Not specific to Wisconsin Nations, but helpful nonetheless.

Molin, Paulette F. AMERICAN INDIAN THEMES IN YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE. Scarecrow Press, 2005. 183 pages (hardcover 0-8108-5081-8)

In sections on contemporary literature, historical fiction and non-fiction, Molin thoughtfully analyzes the portrayal of American Indians in books by both Native and non-Native writers. She addresses the importance of authors doing their homework and background work as part of creating books for youth, and discusses how reviews of books for children and teens can reinforce stereotypes and misperceptions about Native peoples when the reviewer lacks the knowledge or understanding to critically assess the work's authenticity and accuracy.

Seale, Doris and Beverly Slapin, editors. A BROKEN FLUTE: THE NATIVE EXPERIENCE IN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN. Alta Mira Press / Oyate, 2005. 462 pages. (hardcover 0-7591-0778-5)

This long-awaited and much anticipated companion to Through Indian Eyes continues with critical evaluations of books for children and young adults about American Indians. In addition to the critical reviews, this volume includes essays by Native people who share their perceptions and their pain regarding the sterotypes and misinformation about Native peoples that have been generated for decades in books for youth. These individuals challenge us all to listen and to learn.

Slapin, Beverly and Doris Seale. HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE: A CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS. New Society Publishers, 1991. 32 pages. (hardcover 0-86571-215-8; paperback 0-86571-214-X)

An excerpt from THROUGH INDIAN EYES (see below) provides visual and written examples of stereotypes in actual children's books. Useful for inservices and for teaching older children, as well.

Slapin, Beverly and Doris Seale. THROUGH INDIAN EYES: THE NATIVE EXPERIENCE IN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, Volume 3. Second printing: American Indian Studies Center/University of California, 1998. 246 pages. (paperback 0-935626-46-8)

A listing of recommended books and articles by the editors, Michael A. Dorris, Joseph Bruchac, Rosemary Gonzales and others offer opportunities for outsiders to grow in understanding about what makes a good book about American Indian themes and topics. An extensive sequence of reviews and commentaries includes many children's books "about" Indians and takes frequently taught and used books to task for reinforcing stereotypes.

Resources for Teachers

Great Lakes Intertribal Council: Native Wisconsin Homepage (http://www.glitc.org/)

Midwest Treaty Network (http://www.alphacdc.com/treaty/content.html)

Native American Themes in Books for Children and Teens (by Cynthia Leitich Smith)
(http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/NativeThemes.htm)

Oyate (http://www.oyate.org/aboutus.html)

Stereotypes of Native Americans (http://www.hanksville.org/sand/stereotypes/)

Teaching Young Children about Native Americans
(http://www.ericdigests.org/1996-4/native.htm)

Techniques for Evaluating American Indian Websites (http://www.u.arizona.edu/~ecubbins/webcrit.html)

Wisconsin Indian Education Association (http://pages.prodigy.net/munson/)

Wisconsin Indian Tribes (Map) (http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/wi/wisconsin.html)

Official Websites for Wisconsin Indian Nations

Forest County Potawatomi (http://www.fcpotawatomi.com/)

Ho-Chunk Nation (http://www.ho-chunk.com/)

Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (http://www.laccourteoreilles.com/)

Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
(http://www.lacduflambeautribe.com/)

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (http://www.menominee.nsn.us/)

Mohican.com (http://www.mohican.com/)

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin (http://www.oneidanation.org/)

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
(http://www.redcliff.org/rc.php?page=home.html)

Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
(http://www.molelake.com/Tribal/ourtribe.htm)

This bibliography was created from the CCBC publication On Wisconsin: Books about the Badger State compiled by the CCBC Staff in 1997, and updated for the web version in 2001. Subsequent updates have been made by CCBC librarians, and CCBC reference assistants Elsworth Rockefeller (2005) and Fumiko Osada (2007-2008), graduate students in the UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies.

This bibliography may be reproduced for use in Wisconsin schools and libraries as long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center.