Photo Gallery: Native Writers & Illustrators

Editor's note. Most recent update: Jan 28, 2024.

Just about every book a kid picks up has white people in it. And, just about every book is written and illustrated by a white author or illustrator. For literally hundreds of years, white kids have seen themselves reflected in the books they read, and they've had the chance to see people who look like them as writers and illustrators of those books. By default, they've been able to see a reflection of themselves, or, a possible self (someone they could be). By default, they could imagine themselves as the writer or illustrator of that book. They may not have been aware of any of that, but it was there. It is the norm. The default. Seeing themselves in books is like the air they breathe. It is there. Every day.

I want that for Native kids. I want them to see books written and illustrated by people who look like them. I want them to be able to think "Hmmm... I could be a writer, too, just like Cynthia Leitich Smith!" or "Hey! I could be an illustrator, too, just like Shonto Begay!"

I understand that white authors and illustrators 
may feel threatened by my advocacy 
of Native writers and illustrators, 
but that advocacy is for Native children who 
deserve the same affirmations white kids get all the time. 

It is also important that kids who aren't Native see books written and illustrated by Native people. Why? Because there are far too many people who think we no longer exist. There are far too many people that think we were primitive people who grunted and ran around half naked. We were--and are--much more than that!

When reading or booktalking a book written by or illustrated by a Native person, the parent/teacher/librarian can say "Eric Gansworth is Onondaga." That two-letter word, IS, is a powerful one and communicates a great deal to kids. That parent/teacher/librarian can then say "The office for the Onondaga Nation is in New York." And that parent or teacher or librarian can say, "let's talk about sovereignty of tribal nations!"

This photo gallery is a tribute to Native writers and illustrators of books I've recommended on AICL. They are in no particular order. Over time, I'll keep adding to this gallery. I welcome you to write to me to let me know to add someone I've missed. Each person's tribal nation is beneath their name. If there are errors, I apologize, and please let me know. Update on Sep 30, 2023: I am removing Joseph Bruchac from the gallery because I am no longer confident of his claim to Native identity. 

Update: Feb 24, 2018--I am removing Sherman Alexie's photo from this gallery, in light of reports that he has harassed and undermined Native writers.


American Indians in Children's Literature
is pleased to present 
A Gallery of Native Writers and Illustrators

Cynthia Leitich Smith
Muscogee Creek
Image source: Cynsations
http://goo.gl/0wneBW

Michael Lacapa
Apache, Hopi
Image source: Northern Arizona Book Festival
http://goo.gl/4POyCQ

Louise Erdrich
Turtle Mountain Chippewa
Image source: Cleveland.com
http://goo.gl/bXzSwn


Eric Gansworth
Onondaga
Image source: Milkweed
http://goo.gl/6FqBTB

Nicola I. Campbell
Nlel7kepmx, Nsilx and Metis
Image source: The Word on the Street
http://goo.gl/l284Ko

Tim Tingle
Choctaw
Image source: My Very Own Book
http://goo.gl/4KRgwp

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Lakota Sioux
Image source: Native Daughters
http://goo.gl/1mCbDU


Richard Van Camp
Dogrib
Image Source: Zimbio
http://goo.gl/Zg8TNR


Arigon Starr
Kickapoo
Image source: Starrwatcher Online
http://goo.gl/hyLzhc

S.D. Nelson
Standing Rock Sioux

Beverly Blacksheep
Navajo


Lee DeCora Francis, and her boys
Penobscot 

Simon Ortiz
Acoma

Dovie Thomason
Kiowa Apache
Image Source: University of Missouri St. Louis
http://blogs.umsl.edu/news/files/2012/04/thomason_dovie_400_266.jpg


Cheryl Savageau
Abenaki

Donald Uluadluak
Inuit

Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Nishnawbe Ojibwe

Daniel Wilson
Cherokee

Joy Harjo
Mvskoke

Shonto Begay
Navajo

Cheryl Minnema
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Wesley Ballinger
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

Luci Tapahonso
Navajo


Greg Rodgers
Choctaw

Marcie Rendon
White Earth Anishinabe


Ofelia Zepeda
Tohono O'Odham

N. Scott Momaday
Kiowa

Laura Tohe
Navajo

Allan Sockabasin
Passamaquoddy 

Julie Flett
Metis


Richard Wagamese
Wabasseemoong Ojibway

Leslie Marmon Silko
Laguna


Heid E. Erdrich
Turtle Mountain Chippewa

Deborah Miranda
Esselen


John Rombough
Chipewyan Dene

James Welch
Blackfeet/Gros Ventre

Tomson Highway
Cree

George Littlechild
Plains Cree


Roy Boney
Cherokee
Image source: http://goo.gl/KTa8HF 

Lisa Charleyboy
Tsilhqot'in - Raven Clan
Image source: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/

Jim Yellowhawk
Cheyenne River Sioux
Image source: http://www.indianz.com/News/2015/017667.asp

Carole Lindstrom
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Image source: personal email

Jennifer Denetdale
Navajo
Image source: http://nmcmedia.org/video-gallery/thumbs/kuat1_360.jpg




Theo Tso
Paiute
Image source: https://www.facebook.com/teddy.tso.9


Jeannie Barbour
Chickasaw Nation
Image source: https://www.chickasaw.tv/profiles-of-a-nation/list/jeannie-barbour

Glenda Galvan
Chickasaw Nation
 Image source: https://www.chickasawpress.com/Authors/Glenda-Galvan.aspx

Daniel Heath Justice
Cherokee Nation
Image source: https://uofmpress.ca/blog/entry/excerpt-from-masculindians-daniel-heath-justice

David Alexander Robertson
Irish, Scottish, English, Cree
Image source: http://www.darobertson.ca/biography/



Monique Gray Smith
Cree, Lakota, Scottish
Image source: author


Daniel Vandever
Navajo
Image source: author

Amanda Strong
Michif
Photo from Highwater Press

Sharol Graves
Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Photographer: J. Gross, 2005 (photo provided by Graves)

Brenda J. Child
Red Lake Ojibwe
Photographer: Lisa Miller


Gordon Jourdain
Lac La Crois First Nation
Photographer: Brady Willette

Jonathan Thunder
Red Lake Ojibwe
Photographer: Dana Mattice of Artspace


Christine Day
Upper Skagit
Photo provided by Day



Dallas Hunt
Wapisewsipi (Swan River First Nation)
Photo from Highwater Press



Dawn Quigley
Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe
Photo: author's Twitter account
Traci Sorell
Cherokee Nation
Photo: author's website


Cherie Dimaline
Métis
Photo: author's Facebook page

Darcie Little Badger
Lipan Apache
Photo provided by author


Layli Long Soldier
Oglala Lakota
Photo from U Iowa Writers Workshop

Kevin Maillard
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma,
Mekusukey Band
Photo provided by Maillard

Weshoyot Alvitre
Tongva, Cahuilla, Chumash, Spanish & Scottish
Photo from Alvitre

Michaela Goade
Enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and of the Kiks.ådi Clan
Photo from Goade




Jenny Kay Dupuis
Anishinaabe, Nipissing First Nation
Photo provided by Dupuis


Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton 
Inuvialuk of the Inuvialuit
Photo provided by Christy Jordan-Fenton


Andrea L. Rogers
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
Photo provided by Rogers



Angela Gonzalez, Łot'oydaatlno
Łot'oydaatlno is Gonzales's Denaakk'e name
Koyukon Athabascan
Photo by Janessa Howard of Zen Lion Photography


Joni Spiess
Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholder
Inupiaq from Nome, Alaska
Photo by esther pederson photography


Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
Inupiaq



Patricia J. Cutright
Tribally enrolled: Lakota, Cheyenne River Sioux
Image Source: Kenneth Girrard


Sharice Davids
Ho-Chunk Nation
Image Source: Davids


Angeline Boulley
Enrolled, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Photo credit: Amber Boulley
 

Anthony Perry
Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation
Photo credit: Anthony Perry


Alexis Bunten
Unangan and Yup'ik
Photo Credit: Alexis Bunten


Kim Rogers
Enrolled member of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
Photo Credit: Author's website


Laurel Goodluck
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara
Photo Credit: Author's website


Byron Graves
Enrolled member, Red Lake Band of  Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Byron Graves


Lorinda Martinez
Diné
Photo Credit: Navajo-Hopi Observer


Tara Audibert
Wolastoqey
Photo Credit: Harper Collins website


Denise Lajimodiere
Ojibwe
Photo Credit: North Dakota Council on the Arts website


Brittany Gene
Navajo
Photo Credit: Artist's website


Madelyn Goodnight
Chickasaw
Photo Credit: Artist's website


Kelsey Mata
Tlingit
Photo Credit: Artist's website


Jonathan Nelson
Navajo
Photo Credit: Haper Collins website

Brian Young
Navajo
Photo Credit: Author's website

Emily Bowen Cohen
Muscogee, Jewish
Photo Credit: Harper Collins website

Betsy Albert Peacock
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Black Bears and Blueberries website

Thomas Peacock
Fond du Lack Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe
Photo Credit: Black Bears and Blueberries website


3 comments:

Unknown said...

Writers and illustrators for children definitely don't feel threatened by advocacy for Native readers. It's wonderful! Writers, illustrators, librarians, everyone wants more diverse voices in children's literature. But no matter who writes them, a very, very small percentage of books written and illustrated actually get published by traditional publishers (although traditional publishers have been asking for more diverse submissions recently).

Beverly Slapin said...

Wonderful to see all of these talented Native writers and artists in one place, Debbie!

BAJ said...

Hello. I am a Gitxsan/Canadian Educator, living and working on the traditional territory of the Gitxsan nation. I am currently taking a librarian course. I appreciate this blog. Particularly that you included pictures so that people can see themselves reflected in these authors. Our public school is 90% plus Indigenous. We are finally starting to have our library of books and resources reflect our population. It is boosting our young peoples confidence to strive to be and do what they want to do. We have a growing number of Gitxsan authors too. Like many nations, we have had a great many artists.
Do you know of any Indigenous bloggers that blog about literature or libraries in the north here in Canada?
Thank you. Hamiiya!
Barb Janze