September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In just a few days, children in schools across Canada will wear orange shirts to honour Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters. It’s a time for Canadians to recognize and reflect on the lasting impact Canada’s residential school system has had on Indigenous peoples.
This month’s feature is a piece by Colette Poitras, Indigenous Public Library Advisor for the Government of Canada. In her engaging article, Colette speaks with four Indigenous illustrators about their work, the responsibility they feel to represent their cultures authentically, and what it means to them to contribute to these important stories.
In our Keep Your Eye On column, we introduce you to Shawna Lee Corbould, an Ojibwe author and social worker whose latest book, Jenny’s Concrete Powwow, draws on her experiences as an Indigenous person living in an urban setting and trying to reconnect with her culture.
This month’s Bookmark list of new releases has a little bit of everything, from identity, culture, and heritage to family, friendship, resilience, self-acceptance, social justice, adventure, curiosity, and finding your voice.
As always, you’ll also find reviews of 12 new books to discover and enjoy.
Happy reading!
Shannon Barnes