The Indigenous Peoples Task Force strengthens the wellness of Native communities in Minnesota using methods that are based in Indigenous values and ways of knowing. One important way they do this is by returning to first medicines and connecting people to Indigenous healing traditions that have been passed down through generations. In this episode, Odia and Allison sit down with Suzanne Nash (Bois Forte Ojibwe) and Nathan Berglund (Oglala Lakota, Northern Cheyenne) to talk about honoring tobacco as a sacred plant, the importance of smudging ceremonies and more.

Watch a tobacco tie demonstration on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured 

Questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com.

RESOURCES
Indigenous Peoples Task Force website: https://indigenouspeoplestf.org/ 

Ikidowin Peer Education Program and Youth Theater Acting Ensemble: https://indigenouspeoplestf.org/youth-education/ 

The Teaching Garden curriculum: https://indigenouspeoplestf.org/teaching-garden/ 

Twin Cities PBS Documentary: Reclaiming Sacred Tobacco in Minnesota's Indigenous Communities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhr9sy7ZgnY 

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en 

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured 

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 

BOOKS FROM THIS EPISODE

“Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” by Monique Gray Smith: https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/21788?srsltid=AfmBOooczqEAb3jCPpb8Z816J1RdXdZqZFrfm_zwYHaLjZV2rG8BXR7u

“Josie Dances” by Denise Lajimodiere: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/josie-dances 

“Siha Tooskin Knows the Offering of Tobacco” by Charlene Bearhead and Wilson Bearhead: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/siha-tooskin-knows-the-offering-of-tobacco

“The Adventures of Papa Lemon's Little Wanderers” book series by Lehman Riley: https://papalemonedu.com/

“The Gift of Mnoomin” by Brittany Luby: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/the-gift-of-mnoomin

“The Water Walker” by Joanne Robertson: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/the-water-walker

“Three Feathers” by Richard Van Camp: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/three-feathers 

“We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom: https://carolelindstrom.com/books/we-are-water-protectors/ 

Classroom Essentials: Return to First Medicines with the Indigenous Peoples Task Force

Books for middle schoolers often center on themes of adventure and friendship, while students in these grades are also developing problem-solving skills and discussing more complex topics in social studies and English language arts. In this episode, Allison and Odia share their picks for the top Native American books that every middle school library should have. 

The top Native American books for elementary schools were covered in a previous episode. Stay tuned for another episode on book recommendations for high schools!

Have questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com. 

RESOURCES: 
Episode 4: Native American books every elementary school library should have
Episode 3: “Where Wolves Don’t Die” and more with Anton Treuer
A Guide to Reliable Native American-Related Teaching Resources: https://www.understandnativemn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024_-Native_American_Teaching_Resources_Guide.pdf
Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 
Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine 
Books are Good Medicine Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

NATIVE AMERICAN BOOKS EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE
1.	“A Stranger at Home” by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
2.	“Apple in the Middle” by Dawn Quigley
3.	“Eagle Drums” by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopso
4.	“Fatty Legs” by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
5.	“Heroes of the Water Monster” by Brian Young
6.	“How I Became A Ghost” by Tim Tingle
7.	“In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse” by Joseph M. Marshall III
8.	“Jo Jo Makoons” series by Dawn Quigley
9.	“Lei and the Fire Goddess” by Malia Maunakea
10.	“Native Women Changing Their Worlds” by Patricia Cutright
11.	“Rain Is Not My Indian Name” by Cynthia Leitich Smith
12.	“Rez Ball” by Byron Graves
13.	“She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller” by Traci Sorell 
14.	“She Persisted: Deb Haaland” by Laurel Goodluck
15.	“She Persisted: Maria Tallchief” by Christine Da
16.	“The Case of the Rigged Race” by Michael Hitchinson
17.	“The Gift Is in the Making: Anishinaabeg Stories” by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
18.	“The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline
19.	“The Night Wanderer” by Drew Hayden Taylor
20.	“Three Feathers” by Richard Van Camp
21.	“Walking in Two Worlds” by Wab Kinew
22.	“Where Wolves Don’t Die” by Anton Treuer
23.	“We Still Belong” by Christine Day

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog.

Classroom essentials: Native American books every middle school library should have

Local Native authors Art Coulson (Cherokee) and Nicholas DeShaw (Bois Forte Ojibwe) sit down with Allison to talk about their children’s books. Art is the author of 20 books, graphic novels and plays, and Nicholas has written fiction for all ages, from sci-fi to picture books. They are also passionate about Indigenous lacrosse, a topic they each have covered in their writing. In this episode, Art and Nicholas discuss the importance of Native representation in children’s literature, the value of graphic novels, lacrosse, tips for aspiring writers and illustrators, and more.

RESOURCES
Art Coulson’s website: https://artcoulson.com/

“Lacrosse Clash” by Art Coulson: https://artcoulson.com/product/jake-maddox-lacrosse-clash/

“Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi!” by Art Coulson: https://artcoulson.com/product/ni-elisi/

Nicholas DeShaw’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholas_deshaw/

"Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow” by Nicholas DeShaw: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690490/loaf-the-cat-goes-to-the-powwow-by-nicholas-deshaw-illustrated-by-tara-audibert/

Twin Cities Native Lacrosse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tc.native.lacrosse

All My Relations Arts’ Native Authors Program: https://allmyrelationsarts.org/programs/native-authors-program/

“Our Stories: Past, Present, and Future” anthology of Indigenous writers of the Native Author's Program: https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/our-stories-past-present-and-future

Books are Good Medicine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine/featured

Books are Good Medicine website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/

Questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com.

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog.

Author Talk: Children’s books with Art Coulson and Nicholas DeShaw

If there’s one thing that we love to talk about on the Books are Good Medicine podcast, it’s a good book! In today’s special episode, we welcome Minnesota State Senator Mary Kunesh, a descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. As a former library media specialist for nearly 20 years, she has a lot of experience reading and selecting books for different grade levels. Senator Kunesh joins us to share a list of great Native books she enjoys, wants to read or recommends for school-aged children. 
RESOURCES:
•	“Apple: Skin to the Core” by Eric Gansworth
•	“A Council of Dolls” by Mona Susan Power
•	Cash Blackbear mystery series by Marcie B. Rendon
•	“Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults” by Monique Gray Smith
•	“Finding My Dance” by Ria Thundercloud
•	“Highway of Tears” by Jessica McDiarmid
•	“The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline
•	“The Only Good Indians” by Stephen Graham Jones
•	“Where They Last Saw Her” by Marcie B. Rendon
•	“We Are Still Here!” by Traci Sorell
•	“We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom

Have questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com. 

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog. 

RESOURCES: 
Website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en


Bookmarked: Your next reads from Senator Mary Kunesh

High schoolers often enjoy reading books that explore themes of identity, coming-of-age stories and books that delve into social issues. In high school, students are also learning how to analyze texts and themes in their literature more critically. In this episode, Allison and Odia share their picks for the top Native American books that every high school library should have. 

Previous episodes covered the top Native American books for elementary schools and top Native American books for middle schools.

Have questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com. 

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp 
Dance” by Bluedog. 

NATIVE AMERICAN BOOKS EVERY HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE
1.	“A Constellation of Minor Bears” by Jen Ferguson
2.	“A Snake Falls to Earth” by Darcie Little Badge
3.	“Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story” by David Robertson
4.	“Catching the Light” by Joy Harjo
5.	“Colonization and the Wampanoag Story” by Linda Coombs
6.	“Crooked Hallelujah” by Kelli Jo Ford
7.	“Elatsoe” by Darcie Little Badger
8.	“Hearts Unbroken” by Cynthia Leitich Smith
9.	“Man Made Monsters” by Andrea L. Rogers
10.	“Moon of the Crusted Snow” by Waubgeshig Rice
11.	“Murder on the Red River” by Marcie Rendon
12.	“My Good Man” by Eric Gansworth
13.	“Night Flying Woman” by Ignatia Broker
14.	“One Native Life” by Richard Wagamese
15.	“Running with Changing Woman” by Lorinda Martinez
16.	“Soldiers Unknown” by Chag Lowry
17.	“The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee” by David Treuer
18.	“The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel” by Patti LaBoucane-Benson
19.	“The Reason You Walk: A Memoir” by Wab Kinew
20. “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” by Robin Wall Kimmerer
21.	“The Summer of Bitter and Sweet” by Jen Ferguson
22.	“Voices from Pejuhutazizi: Dakota Stories and Storytellers” by Teresa Peterson and Walter LaBatte Jr.

RESOURCES:
⁠Episode 4: Native American books every elementary school library should have⁠⁠⁠
Episode 23: Native American books every middle school library should have⁠⁠ ⁠
A Guide to Reliable Native American-Related Teaching Resources⁠⁠
Website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Classroom essentials: Native American books every high school library should have

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis is a serious issue in both the U.S. and Canada, where Indigenous women are the victims of violent crime far more often than women of any other group. In this episode, Allison and Odia discuss how educators can bring awareness to MMIW and resources available to approach this topic in schools with author Marcie Rendon (White Earth Nation) and CEO of the Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition Nicole Matthews (White Earth Nation).

MMIW RESOURCES
•	Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition website 
•	Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
•	National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
•	Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota

MMIW BOOKS
•	Cash Blackbear murder mystery series by Marcie Rendon
•	“Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands” by Kate Beaton
•	“Firekeeper's Daughter” by Angeline Boulley
•	“Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference, and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls” by Jessica McDiarmid
•	“If I Go Missing” by Brianna Jonnie
•	“#Notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women” by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
•	“Paying the Land” by Joe Sacco
•	“Where They Last Saw Her” by Marcie Rendon

RESOURCES
•	Episode 15: Author Talk: “Looking For Smoke” with K.A. Cobell
•	Website: https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 
•	YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine 
•	Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en

Have questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com. 

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog. 


Classroom essentials: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)

Dream of Wild Health is a nonprofit working to restore health and well-being in the Native American community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous foods, medicines, and lifeways. In this episode, Allison and Odia sit down with Program Manager Jill Greendeer, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., (Ho-Chunk/Potawatomi/Kaw) and her son and colleague, Justice Haom. They discuss the goals of Dream of Wild Health, Jill’s new research on the barriers that Native youth face in the education system, resources for educators and much more.

Questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com.

RESOURCES
•	Dream of Wild Health website
•	Indigenous Food Network (IFN) website
•	IFN Youth Gardening Curriculum
•	Indigenous Voices ElevatED
•	Books are Good Medicine Instagram 
•	Books are Good Medicine YouTube channel
•	Books are Good Medicine website

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog. 


Classroom essentials: Native well-being with Dream of Wild Health

In this episode, Allison and Odia sit down with representatives from the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) who share their top resources, professional development opportunities, and other recommendations for educators looking to better incorporate Native content and perspectives into their classrooms.
Guests in this episode include:
•	Dezi Lynn (Diné Nation), NIEA Educator Initiative Manager
•	Waquin Preston (Diné, Navajo Nation), NIEA Tribal State Policy Director
•	Helen Thomas (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe), NIEA Professional Learning Manager

Questions or comments? Email us at info@booksaregoodmedicine.com.


RESOURCES
•	National Indian Education Association (NIEA) website
•	NIEA's digital resources for schools, teachers, parents and students
•	NIEA Learning for Sovereign Futures workshop information
•	“Indigenous Children’s Survivance in Public Schools” by Leilani Sabzalian
•	“On Our Own Terms: Indigenous Histories of School Funding and Policy” by Meredith McCoy
•	“The Water Monster” series by Brian Young
•	Instagram: www.instagram.com/booksaregoodmedicine/?hl=en 
•	YouTube: www.youtube.com/@BooksAreGoodMedicine 
•	Website https://www.booksaregoodmedicine.com/ 

This podcast is sponsored by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and produced by Goff Public. Our theme music is “Stomp Dance” by Bluedog.

Classroom essentials: National Indian Education Association resources

Books Are Good Medicine Podcast

Related tracks