15 children's & YA books by Indigenous creators in Canada

June is Indigenous Book Club Month and National Indigenous History Month in Canada. Celebratewith younger readers by picking up one of these books by Indigenous creators.

Una Huna? What Is This? by Susan Aglukar, illustrated by Danny Christopher and Amanda Sandland

In musician Susan Aglukark'sfirst picture book, Ukpik loves her life at camp in the North with her family, friends and puppy. When a trader from the south arrives, Ukpik learns how to use forks, knives and spoons and is excited to teach other children as well. But then Ukpik wonders if the new tools will change her community's way of life andturns to her grandmother for guidance.

• Susan Aglukark's picture book series will honour the resilience of the Inuit

Counting in Mi'kmaw by Loretta Gould

This board book teaches the youngest readers to count from one to 10 in both English and Mi'kmaw. Accompanied with vibrant illustrations of animals like the turtle, bear and beaver, Mi'kmaq artist Loretta Gould weaves in central concepts of her people's culture throughout the book.

Awsis and the World-Famous Bannock by Dallas Hunt

When a young girl misplaces a batch of herKhkum'sfamous bannock, forest animals gather ingredients so she can replace what she lost. UBC professor Dallas Hunt includes a list of Cree words in the back of the book, as well as his ownKhkum'sbannock recipe. The book is illustrated by Michif filmmaker Amanda Strong.

• Dallas Hunt on Awsis and the World-Famous Bannock

The Case of Windy Lake by Michael Hutchinson

Cousins Sam, Otter, Atim and Chickadee are known as the Mighty Muskrats of Windy Lake First Nation. When an archaeologist goes missing, they investigate his disappearance amidst increasingly heatedenvironmental protests.The Case of Windy Lake, written for readers aged 9 to 12,is the first book by Michael Hutchinson, who is a member of Misipawistik Cree Nation.

Those Who Dwell Below by Aviaq Johnston

After being trapped in a spirit world, a young shaman named Pitu returns to his life in the Arctic. When Pitugets wind of a nearby community that is starving, he realizes he must travel to the depths of the ocean to meet with the sea goddess Nuliajuk.Those Who Dwell Below, written for readers 12 and up,is a sequel toAviaq Johnston's debut novel,Those Who Run in the Sky,which was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature text.

• Why author Aviaq Johnston's stories are rooted in the Arctic

Fire Song by Adam Garnet Jones

Following his sister's suicide, Shane, a gay Indigenous teenager in Northern Ontario, struggles to support his family. Shaneis eventually forced to choose between his family's home and his own future.Fire Songis an adaptation of Adam Garnet Jones's award-winning film.

• 'Just leave?' Fire Song challenges flip advice to First Nations youth

Go Show the World by Wab Kinew, illustrated Joe Morse

This rap-song-turned-picture-book by Manitoba NDP leaderWab KinewandJoe Morsecelebrates Indigenous leaders in the U.S. and Canada. Some of the figures mentioned include Crazy Horse,Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut JohnHerringtonand MontrealCanadiensgoalie Carey Price.Go Show the Worldwas a finalistfor the2018 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature illustrated books.

Bear for Breakfastby Robert Munsch, illustrated byJay Odjick

Children's authorRobert Munschand illustrator Jay Odjick team up for a second picture book calledBear for Breakfast.In this tale, a boy named Donovan decides to catch a bear to eat for breakfast,just like his grandfather used to eat. When he goes hunting, Donovan discovers the bear might have other plans. The book is inspired by a visit with the Chippewan community in La Loche, Sask. in 1990, whereMunschmet a boy named Donovan who said he loved to eat bear.Jay Odjick is a writer, artist and television producer from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community.

• How Jay Odjick illustrated the Robert Munsch picture book Bear for Breakfast

Ghosts by David Alexander Robertson

Ghostsis the third book inDavid A. Robertson's Reckoner series following an Indigenous teen namedCole Harper, who returns home after many years away. InGhosts,Cole is dead and time is running out for Wounded Sky First Nation as Mihko Laboratories, which manufactured an illness that once afflicted the community, has reopened its research facilities.

• 'Write what you're passionate about.' David A. Robertson's advice for his younger self

The Owl and the Two Rabbits by Nadia Sammurtok, illustrated by Marcus Cutler

In this traditional Inuit story, two rabbit sisters play on the open tundra in spite of their parents' warnings. When a hungry owl findsthe sisters, a wild chase ensues and the rabbits must use their guile to escape. Nadia Sammurtok is an Inuit writer and educator now based in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Marcus Cutler is a children's illustrator from Ontario.

Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Natasha Donovan

High school students Miikwan, who is of Anishinaabedescent, and Dez, who is of Inninewdescent, are best friends in Winnipeg. Both have experiencedloss, as women in their lives have gone missing or been murdered. InSurviving the City,Miikwan and Dezlean on each other and their communities for support and strive to change the devastating trend of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Surviving the Cityis the first graphic novel by Spillett,aNehiyaw and Trinidadian scholar based in Saskatchewan. Natasha Donovan is an award-winning Mtis illustrator who lives in B.C.

Mi'kmaw Animals by Alan Syliboy

Alan Syliboyintroduces young readers to a variety of Canadian animals, like caribou, moose and whales, with his beautiful artwork. On each page, the English and Mi'kmaw word for the animal is present. Syliboy is a celebratedMi'kmaq artist and author based in Nova Scotia.

The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Julie Flett

In this picture book, a little girl gets lost in the woods while picking berries. A large grey wolf is able to tell where she is from by smelling her and helps her get home. In the meantime, the little girl realizes she had the skills to find her way back all along. BothKatherena Vermetteand Julie Flett are Governor General's Literary Award-winning artists Vermettefor the poetry collectionNorth End Love Songsand Flett for the children's bookWhen We Were Alone.

• Katherena Vermette on why quiet stories speak the loudest

Red River Resistance by Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Scott B. Henderson

In the second book ofKatherenaVermette's A Girl Called Echo series, Echo Desjardinsis settling into a new home, making new friends and going to class when she's once again yanked through time to an important moment in Indigenous history. It's the summer of 1869 and Echo is on the banks of the Red River where Canadian surveyors are taking land from Mtisfamilies and the young heroine gets caught up in the resistance movement.

Sockeye Silver, Saltchuck Blue by Robert Budd, illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers

This stunning board bookshowcases the majestic changing of the seasons on Canada's west coast, as illustrated by world-renowned First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers. Vibrant colours dance through the pages to illustrate the flora,fauna and weather of the Pacific Northwest, includinggrey winter rains, jewel red huckleberries and white ptarmigans.