What I love about graphic novels and comics is that the medium can help with even the most reluctant readers. Making visual a complicated point or a tough history can really add to the power of a story, and it can also make it a great way to introduce tough topics to students. Don’t get me wrong: in no way does it dilute the story or simplify it. Instead, illustrations can work with the text to convey things in a more concrete way that is a great conversation starter. Even for adults and those who love to read, beautiful and powerful illustration just adds another rich layer to a text. Indigenous voices have long been left out of the cultural conversation, or silenced. Every book on this list is written and/or illustrated by Indigenous creators, and they are set in either the U.S. or in Canada. This is in no way a comprehensive list, just a starting point. If you’re looking for even more Indigenous graphic novels and books, I’d encourage you to check out Birchbark Books & Native Arts, and Red Planet Books and Comics. Which one will you read first? If you’re looking for even more Indigenous books, check out this post on Indigenous poets you should know, and this post about Indigenous memoirs.
