Anton Treuer ’91 on Native American History

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Anton Treuer ’91 is a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University in Minnesota — a “language warrior” fighting to keep Native American languages alive. In April, he released an edition of his book, Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid To Ask, edited for young adult readers. This month his latest book will be published, The Cultural Toolbox: Traditional Ojibwe Living in the Modern World, which follows one Ojibwe family through its living traditions and cultural beliefs. PAW asked Treuer to recommend three more books for understanding Native American history, and he suggested these.

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The Firekeeper’s Daughter

By Angeline Boulley

This is the debut novel of a truly authentic Indigenous voice. It will transport you to the experiences and environments of Native Americans in the Sault Ste. Marie area with engaging character, a page-turning plot, and a mix of humor, intrigue, and heart that have kept it on the New York Times bestseller list for very good reasons.

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Playing Indian

By Philip Deloria

Deloria mixes a sweeping and well-researched overview of America’s fascination with Indigenous people with a brilliant analysis, humor, and hope. You’ll never look at Native Americans the same way again.

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An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States

By Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

A broad and accessible overview of Native American history from an authentic Indigenous perspective, this book is widely adopted for K-12 and higher education now. It will fill gaps in your knowledge and help you understand the voices shaping the new narrative on Native history.