Reading Lists
Below are resources we believe will help you in your learning journey.
To orient readers to the resources, we’ve grouped them into categories, but of course, most of the resources will touch on a variety of topics and stories and will be relevant in multiple categories.
We have assigned levels to these resources, following the system commonly used for university courses. 100-level resources are “first year”-level and can be read without prior knowledge or training. 300-level resources are intermediate level and will be more accessible if you have read some 100-level resources first. 500-level resources are advanced — less about introducing concepts and more about deepening readers' engagement, advancing dialogue, and spurring action.
Links provided are to the resources themselves, to the authors’/creators’ websites, or to the publishers. We encourage you to, where possible, buy as directed by authors or publishers, from Indigenous vendors, or from local businesses who have committed in their practices to decolonization. Or, borrow resources from your local library (or request that they carry these resources)!
Where to start: Top 3 book recommendations
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Becoming Kin: An Indigenous Call to Unforgetting the Past and Reimagining Our Future
by Patty Krawec. 100 LEVEL
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True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change
by Jodi Wilson-Raybould. 100 LEVEL
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21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality
by Bob Joseph. 100 LEVEL
Reading From Indigenous Worldviews (all 100 LEVEL)
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Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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Neither Wolf Nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder
by Kent Nerburn
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The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative
by Thomas King
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Firekeeper's Daughter
by Angeline Boulley
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The Marrow Thieves
by Cherie Dimaline
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A Mind Spread Out on the Ground
by Alicia Elliot
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Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations
by Richard Wagamese
Understanding Historical Background
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21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a Reality
by Bob Joseph. 100 LEVEL
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The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America
by Thomas King. 100 LEVEL
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Settler: Identity and Colonialism in 21st Century Canada
by Emma Battell Lowman and Adam J Barker, 100-300 LEVEL
Understanding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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In This Together: Fifteen Stories of Truth and Reconciliation
by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail (editor). 100 level
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Wrongs to Rights: How Churches can Engage the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
by Steve Heinrichs (editor). 100-300 LEVEL
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Yours, Mine, Ours: Unravelling the Doctrine of Discovery
by Cheryl Woelk (editor). 100-300 LEVEL
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Quest for Respect: The Church and Indigenous Spirituality
by Jeff Friesen (editor). 100-300 LEVEL
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A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
from the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with Aimée Craft. 100 LEVEL with heavy content
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Indian Horse
by Richard Wagamese. 100 LEVEL with heavy content
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Reports from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
All the reports from the TRC are available here. The Executive Summary would be a good place to start.. 100-500 LEVEL
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Educational resources from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
For different ages. 100-500 LEVEL
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Kuper Island Podcast
hosted by Duncan McCue. 100 LEVEL with heavy content
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Walking In a Good Way with Indigenous Neighbours (free online course)
by Danny Zacharias 100 LEVEL
Indigenous Theology
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Introduction to First Nations Ministry: Centre for Pentecostal Theology Native North American Contextual Movement Series
by Cheryl Bear-Barnetson. 100 LEVEL
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One Church Many Tribes: Following Jesus the Way God Made You
by Richard Twiss. 100 LEVEL
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Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way
by Richard Twiss. 100 LEVEL
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Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
by Randy S. Woodley. 100 LEVEL
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Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview: A Decolonized Approach to Christian Doctrine
by Randy S. Woodley 100 LEVEL
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Living Resistance
by Kaitlin B. Curtice. 100 LEVEL
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Displacement: Indigenous Peoples, Land, and Mission
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Following Jesus in Invaded Space: Doing Theology on Aboriginal Land
by Chris Budden. 300 LEVEL
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Native Americans and the Christian Right: The Gendered Politics of Unlikely Alliances
by Adrea Smith. 300 LEVEL
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NAIITS Journals: An Indigenous Learning Community (North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies)
from NAITTS, Volumes 1-14 available. 300-500 LEVEL
Understanding Decolonization and Anti-racism
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Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in Canada
by Paulette Reagan. 100 LEVEL
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Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery
by Mark Charles, Soong-Chan Rah. 100 LEVEL
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Settler: Identity and Colonialism in 21st Century Canada
by Emma Battell Lowman and Adam J Barker 100-300 LEVEL
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Healing Haunted Histories: A Settler Discipleship of Decolonization
by Elaine Enns, Ched Myers. 300 LEVELS
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The Land is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
by Sarah Augustine. 300 LEVEL
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Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry: Conversations on Creation, Land Justice, and Life Together
by Steve Heinrichs (editor) 500 LEVEL
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The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race
by Willie Jennings. 500 LEVEL
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Decolonization is not a metaphor
by Eve Tuck, K. Wayne Yang. 500 LEVEL
Understanding Current Social Issues
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Treaty Elders of Saskatchewan: Our Dream Is That Our Peoples Will One Day Be Clearly Recognized as Nations
by Harold Cardinal and Walter Hildebrandt. 100 level
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Where the Pavement Ends: Canada’s Aboriginal Recovery Movement and the Urgent Need for Reconciliation
by Marie Wadden. 100 LEVEL
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Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City
by Tanya Tagalag. 100 LEVEL
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Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-Up Call
by Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson, Arthur Manuel. 300 LEVEL
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Thunder Bay Podcast
hosted by Ryan McMahon
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canadaLANDBACK
hosted by Karyn Pugliese
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Land Back Podcast
Walking Toward Healing and Justice
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Anabaptist Witness Dialogues: Randy Haluza-Delay & Randy Woodley
hosted by Jamie Pitts. 100 LEVEL
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Seven Commitments made by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
from the EFC. 100 LEVEL
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Paths for Peacemaking with Host Peoples
by Steve Heinrichs. 100 LEVEL
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United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Free PDF. United Nations. 100 LEVEL
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Strength for Climbing: Steps on the Journey of Reconciliation
from Kairos Canada. 100 LEVEL
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Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor
by Layla Saad. 300 LEVEL
Children's Books
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Shi-shi-etko
by Nicola Campbell, illustrated by Kim Lafave. AGES 4-8
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As Long as the Rivers Flow
by Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden, illustrated by Heather Holmlund. AGES 9-12
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The Honour Drum: Sharing First Nations Truth with Children
by Cheryl Bear and Tim Huff. Designed to be read and discussed with parents and children.
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We Feel Good Out Here
by Julie-Ann André and Mindy Willett. AGES 9-12
Short Films (all 100 LEVEL)
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Awakenings: We Were Always Here
by Jonathan Elliott
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Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen lands, Strong Hearts
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Invasion
from Unistoten Camp.
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Land Acknowledgements and Why They Matter
by Ryan Matheson, with illustrations and art direction by Jessie Buchanan
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Reserve 107
by Brad Leitch (director), produced by Rebel Sky Media
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RESIST: The Unist'ot'en's Call To The Land
by David Goldberg and Eli Hirtle (co-directors), Hilary Somerville (producer, writer), produced by Simple Matters Films