"Top 3 Indigenous Memoirs"

1. Dog Flowers by Danielle Geller

In a deeply personal and introspective journey, Diné writer Danielle Geller embarks on a transformative odyssey following the passing of her mother. Set against the backdrop of mourning and discovery, Geller's narrative unfolds as she navigates the emotional terrain of grief and longing, grappling with the weight of unresolved questions about her mother's life and legacy.

As Geller sifts through her mother's belongings in Florida, she is confronted with the realization that there are vast swaths of her mother's story that remain shrouded in mystery and obscurity. Determined to unearth the hidden truths of her family's history and culture, Geller embarks on a pilgrimage across the country, retracing her mother's footsteps from Florida to the Navajo Nation.

With each step of her journey, Geller delves deeper into the rich tapestry of her ancestral roots, seeking connection and understanding amidst the vast expanse of her heritage. Along the way, she encounters echoes of her mother's presence and traces of her own identity woven into the fabric of the land and the people she encounters.

Through Geller's evocative prose and keen observations, listeners are transported across landscapes both physical and emotional, as she grapples with the complexities of grief, identity, and belonging. From the sun-drenched shores of Florida to the rugged terrain of the Navajo Nation, Geller's journey serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling as a means of healing and self-discovery.

As Geller embarks on her quest for understanding, listeners are invited to accompany her on a profound and illuminating exploration of family, culture, and the bonds that tie us to the past. In the pages of her memoir, Geller invites us to bear witness to the transformative power of love, loss, and the enduring legacy of those who came before us.

2. They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellars

In a harrowing and poignant memoir, Xatsu’ll chief Bec Sellars offers a searing account of her experiences as a survivor of Canada's residential school system. Through her deeply personal narrative, Sellars sheds light on the profound and enduring trauma inflicted upon Indigenous children in the name of assimilation and colonization.

As a young girl, Sellars was forcibly removed from her family and community and sent to St. Joseph's Mission, a residential school where Indigenous children were subjected to systemic abuse, cultural erasure, and the relentless imposition of Eurocentric norms and values. Within the confines of the school's walls, Sellars and her peers endured unimaginable hardships, including the forced cutting of their hair, the suppression of their languages and cultural practices, and the pervasive atmosphere of fear and intimidation orchestrated by school administrators.

Sellars' memoir serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous peoples in the face of adversity. Through her candid and unflinching storytelling, she bears witness to the pain and suffering endured by generations of Indigenous children at the hands of a colonial institution hell-bent on eradicating their identities and cultures.

As Sellars recounts her journey of survival and healing, listeners are invited to confront the legacy of Canada's residential school system and reckon with the ongoing impact of intergenerational trauma on Indigenous communities. Through her courageous act of storytelling, Sellars seeks to honor the voices of those who have been silenced and to shed light on a dark chapter in Canadian history that continues to reverberate through Indigenous lives today.

In bearing witness to Sellars' story, listeners are called to confront the injustices of the past and to commit to building a future rooted in truth, reconciliation, and justice for Indigenous peoples. Sellars' memoir stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of Indigenous resistance and resilience in the face of oppression.

3. Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog

In her compelling memoir, Sicangu Lakota author and activist Mary Crow Dog offers a poignant and stirring account of her journey as a fierce advocate for the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples during the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s. Born into the Sicangu Lakota tribe as Mary Brave Bird, she provides readers with an intimate glimpse into her formative years growing up on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where she experienced firsthand the harsh realities of poverty, discrimination, and cultural suppression.

Raised in a humble one-room cabin with her family, Crow Dog's early years were marked by adversity and struggle, yet they also instilled in her a deep sense of resilience, pride, and determination. As she came of age amidst the backdrop of the burgeoning civil rights movement, Crow Dog found herself drawn to the cause of Indigenous liberation and empowerment.

Joining forces with a cadre of Native activists, Crow Dog embarked on a journey of resistance and rebellion against the systemic injustices perpetrated against Indigenous communities. At the forefront of this movement was her marriage to Leonard Crow Dog, a visionary leader and spiritual activist who played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Ghost Dance—a sacred ceremony that had been outlawed by the United States government.

Through Crow Dog's vivid and evocative prose, listeners are transported to the heart of the Indigenous resistance movement, where they bear witness to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of those who dared to challenge the status quo. From the front lines of protest encampments to the inner sanctums of political power, Crow Dog's memoir offers a rare glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous peoples fighting for justice and self-determination.

As Crow Dog navigates the complexities of activism, spirituality, and personal identity, her memoir serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities in the face of centuries of colonization and oppression. Through her unwavering dedication to the cause of Indigenous liberation, Crow Dog emerges as a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding listeners of the enduring power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and forge a path toward a brighter future for generations to come.