The post A Spotlight on Indigenous Creations appeared first on Graphic Policy.
This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other than whether the things being covered are Underrated in some way. This week: A Spotlight on Indigenous Creations.
This week I’m doing something that I have never done; spotlighting books I haven’t read. You see this week 751 unmarked graves were discovered on the grounds of an Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, Canada. This is on top of the 215 bodies found in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. These children were taken from their homes, horrifically abused, and far too many were murdered and forgotten. The Indian Residential Schools, the first opened around 1830, were a concerted effort at cultural genocide by the Canadian government (and later the Catholic Church) upon its involvement and escalation of the residential schools in the 1870’s. I’m not going to tell you what I know about the system because frankly I don’t know enough, but I do want to make you aware of them. I also want you to know that the last school closed in 1996. That is recently enough that a lot of us remember that year – and the Canadian Government and Catholic Church were still operating residential schools. This isn’t something from the distant past, and the impact of the residential schools have been generational and culturally devastating.
For more on the residential schools, read The Residential School System By Erin Hanson (2009), with updates and revisions by Daniel P. Gamez & Alexa Manuel (September 2020). Wikipedia is a good place to start to learn more, though not as detailed as the former article.
The mortality rate for Indigenous Peoples in the residential schools was greater than those of Canadian soldiers in World War One. Many families who lost children never found out what happened to them. It is a heartbreaking truth to learn, and non Indigenous Canadians have a lot of learning and listening to do.
The publishers and comics.
I hope if you’re reading this then you at least read the Wikipedia page above, and maybe you’ll check out some of the links below; all will take you to art, graphic novels, comics and novels created by Indigenous writers and artists. This column isn’t going to come anywhere close to reconciliation, but as a white man I feel it’s my responsibility to encourage others to listen to and read the stories of Indigenous People. I’m going to link you to publishers and some sample stories; please note that none of the below are affiliate links for Graphic Policy, nor are these the only books located at each publisher – these are just a selection.
Eaglespeaker Publishing Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Eaglespeaker write, illustrate, publish and distribute bestselling paperbacks and eBooks worldwide. With titles that feature over 250 First Nations throughout North America. I’ve included a small number below with the link to the book on the publisher’s site, but there’s a lot more on the website.
The Secret of the Stars A young man’s journey to find four fallen stars.After watching the stars falling to earth, he is whisked into the land of dreams where he is told that the discovery of each star will also reveal one of life’s many secrets. A voyage that takes him across distant lands, into the realm of dreams, and back again. Ultimately the young man begins to understand the deeper purpose of why he was put on this path and what finding all the stars truly means. A story about the wondrous places your dreams can take you.
The Did Not Quit The story of the first all-female team to finish the 3200km Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race. Their dedication and strength helped them overcome the challenges that racers experience during cross country snowmobile races. Their goal was to inspire more females to join the male dominated sport, and that they did.
Mukwa And The Suitcase Boozhoo (Greetings) – storytelling has been an ancient tradition of North America’s original people since time immemorial. The truth of the Indigenous experience, and the impacts of colonization, is a story that has been silenced for far too long. Mukwa and The Suitcase takes you on a storytelling journey, through the eyes of an Indigenous child facing the impacts of disconnection from his identity and culture. When hope is at its lowest, Mukwa finds the beginning of a new journey … a journey of re-connection to his identity and his community.
UNeducation Vol 1: A Residental School Graphic Novel This quote from the author, Jason Eaglespeaker, says it all: “I am often asked about the backstory of UNeducation. The original version was a scrapbook, one single copy that I put together when my local school district asked me about residential school resources. At the time there were very few that were instantly engaging. My mom and all of her 8 siblings attended the notorious St Paul’s Residential school in Southern Alberta, so I decided to just make a resource. I set up a little area in my basement, gathered everything I had, and jam-packed a coil bound Hilroy Notebook with articles, interviews, photos, quotes, first hand accounts, and graphic novel illustrations of my family’s experience (completely uncensored). I brought it to the school. By noon, they asked for 10 more copies. So, I hand crafted and coil bound 10 more in my basement (took me a week). I brought them to the school. By the next day, the district wanted 100 more copies. So, I hand crafted and coil bound 100 more in my basement (took me a month). I brought them to the school. By the next week, Alberta Health said they wanted 1000 copies! So, I hand crafted and coil bound 1000 more copies in my basement (took me 3 months!). Since then, UNeducation has gone on to sell well over 220,000 copies, but, I no longer hand make them (lol). It’s now in schools, universities, libraries, addictions programs, and healing initiatives throughout North America and beyond.”
Strong Nations is an online retailer and a publishing house located in Nanaimo, BC, specializing in Indigenous literature and art.
7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga Edwin is facing an uncertain future. Only by learning about his family’s past—as warriors, survivors of a smallpox epidemic, casualties of a residential school—will he be able to face the present and embrace the future.
Indigenous Story Studio formerly known as the Healthy Aboriginal Network, has been a registered non-profit Society in the province of British Columbia since 2005. There is a wealth of stories on this site, that I haven’t had a chance to full investigate, let alone read.
Strength Of The Sash Our Métis story is about a struggling young man finding refuge and a sense of self-worth in his rich heritage. It’s an 18 page story and you can preview 4 pages of the education content [at the link in the title]. The content in these stories may stir up unpleasant feelings or thoughts. Please consider reading them with a family member or friend. This is a two-sided book; the other half being the First Nations story.
Inhabit Education Books is a Nunavut-based educational publishing company with a mandate to provide educators and parents with educational resources that are infused with authentic Northern perspectives, ways of life, and imagery. Their publishing initiative always considers stories and information in an educational context. All of their publications are developed by a team of Northern educators and language experts. These titles incorporate concepts that students are familiar with—counting, animals, family, traditional stories, and so on—within a Northern context.
Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection Inhabit Education Books is proud to distribute this important collection of Indigenous comic stories, originally published by Alternate History Comics. This collection features stories by Indigenous authors and artists from across North America and showcases the rich heritage and identity of Indigenous storytelling. From traditional stories to exciting new visions of the future, this collection presents some of the finest comic book and graphic novel work on the continent.
Portage and Main Press publishes a wide range of innovative and practical K–12 educational materials, including two new graphic novels. They build dynamic learning communities by bringing together authors, educators, and students. Founded in 1967 as Peguis Publishers, the company quickly established a reputation for publishing quality educational resources in addition to Indigenous literature and regional history. Portage & Main Press remains an independently owned Canadian company.
Further reading and resources
- You can fund more Indigenous publishers through the Canada Comics Log, Ryerson University and Ottawa Public Library
- And Also You Too a graphic novel series by and for Indigenous youth.
Where to donate to support survivors of residential schools
- Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society.
- Legacy of Hope Foundation.
- Orange Shirt Society.
- True North Aid.
- First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.
- Reconciliation Canada.
Join us next week when we look at something else that is, for whatever reason, Underrated.