Indigenous ERAC Approved Titles

No Time to Say Goodbye is a fictional account of five children sent to aboriginal boarding school, based on the recollections of a number of Tsartlip First Nations people. These unforgettable children are taken by government agents from Tsartlip Day School to live at Kuper Island Residential School. The five are isolated on the small island and life becomes regimented by the strict school routine. They experience the pain of homesickness and confusion while trying to adjust to a world completely different from their own. Their lives are no longer organized by fishing, hunting and family, but by bells, line-ups and chores. In spite of the harsh realities of the residential school, the children find adventure in escape, challenge in competition, and camaraderie with their fellow students.

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 12+ by the publisher.

Additional Information
175 pages | 5.25" x 7.75" | Paperback

A contemporary middle grade chapter book about confronting bullying and prejudice.

Danny Bigtree's family has moved to Brooklyn, New York, and he just can't seem to fit in at school. He's homesick for the Mohawk reservation, and the kids in his class tease him about being an Indian—the thing that makes Danny most proud. Can he find the courage to stand up for himself? Joseph Bruchac explores courage in the face of racism.

Reviews
“A worthy, well-written novella.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This appealing portrayal of a strong family offers an unromanticized view of Native American culture, and a history lesson about the Iroquois Confederacy; it also gives a subtle lesson in the meaning of daily courage.” —Publishers Weekly

"With so many Native American stories set in the misty past, it's great to read a children's book about an Iroquois boy who lives in the city now. Bruchac weaves together the traditional and the realistic as Danny's ironworker father tells stories of his people's history and heroes, stories that give Danny courage to confront his schoolyard enemies and make friends with them.” —Booklist

Educator Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Additional Information
96 pages | 5.13" x 7.81"

The Great Plains of North America was once home to great herds of bison. The Aboriginal people who lived there revered them and relied on them for food, clothing, and shelter. Into one of these great herds, Little White Buffalo was born in the 19th century. In this heartfelt story, she retells her life - a life that coincides with the devastation of the bison, destroyed by hunters and the coming of the railway.

Additional Information