This guide is maintained by Desmond Wong, Outreach Librarian
Phone: (416) 978-1945
E-mail: de.wong@utoronto.ca
This guide was originally built in 2013 by Rebekah Bédard, an OISE Library practicum student, in collaboration with the Deepening Knowledge Project.
Please see the above list for the supplementary reading materials, including their location in the library. Online resources are denoted with a link available in the 'Title' section of the chart.
Note that for OISE Library materials the following abbreviations have been used to note the location and collection:
Please note that these recommended materials are largely in the Curriculum Resources or Children's Literature Collection on the Third Floor of OISE Library.
A Coyote Columbus Story by
A retelling of the Christopher Columbus story from a Native point of view turns this tale on its ear! Coyote, the trickster, creates the world and all the creatures in it. She is able to control all events to her advantage until a funny-looking red-haired man named Columbus changes her plans. He is unimpressed by the wealth of moose, turtles and beavers in Coyote's land. Instead he is interested in the human beings he can take to sell in Spain. Thomas King uses a bag of literary tricks to shatter the stereotypes surrounding Columbus's voyages. In doingso, he invites children to laugh with him at the crazy antics of Coyote, who unwittingly allows Columbus to bringabout the downfall of his human friends. And he makes the point that history is influenced by the culture of the reporter.
Nation to nation : a resource on treaties in Ontario by
Nation to Nation: A Resource on Treaties in Ontario is a 68-page book from the Union of Ontario Indians designed to inform readers and students about First Nations treaties in Ontario. Edited by Maurice Switzer the book has a definition section and background about treaties in general, treaties between First Nations, the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Indian treaties in Canada, and a timeline showing Indian treaties in Ontario. Specific treaties such as Treaty of Niagara 1764, Chippewa Treaties, Manitoulin Treaties, Robinson Superior Treaty, Robinson Huron Treaty, and Williams Treaties are described.
Shin-Chi's Canoe by
When they arrive at school, Shi-shi-etko reminds Shinchi, her six-year-old brother, that they can only use their English names and that they can't speak to each other. For Shinchi, life becomes an endless cycle of church mass, school, and work, punctuated by skimpy meals. He finds solace at the river, clutching a tiny cedar canoe, a gift from his father, and dreaming of the day when the salmon return to the river -- a sign that it’s almost time to return home. This poignant story about a devastating chapter in First Nations history is told at a child’s level of understanding.
Urban Tribes by
Young, urban Natives powerfully show how their culture and values can survive--and enrich--city life. Much of the popular discourse on Native Americans and Aboriginals focuses on reservation life. But the majority of Natives in North America live off the rez. How do they stay rooted to their culture? How do they connect with their community? Urban Tribes offers unique insight into this growing and often misperceived group. Emotionally potent and visually arresting, the anthology profiles young urban Natives from across North America, exploring how they connect with Native culture and values in their contemporary lives. Their stories are as diverse as they are. From a young Dene woman pursuing a MBA at Stanford to a Pima photographer in Phoenix to a Mohawk actress in New York, these urban Natives share their unique perspectives to bridge the divide between their past and their future, their cultural home, and their adopted cities. Unflinchingly honest and deeply moving, contributors explore a wide-range of topics. From the trials and tribulations of dating in the city to the alienating experience of leaving a remote reserve to attend high school in the city, from the mainstream success of Electric Pow wow music to the humiliation of dealing with racist school mascots, personal perspectives illuminate larger political issues. An innovative and highly visual design offers a dynamic, reading experience.