25 books that highlight beauty of Indigenous literature: 'It is time to tell our own stories our way'

Richard Van Camp is a Tłı̨chǫ Dene writer from Fort Smith, N.W.T., who has written 26 books across multiple genres. His graphic novel A Blanket of Butterflies was nominated for an Eisner Award and his children's book Little You, illustrated by Julie Flett, was translated into Bush Cree, Plains Cree, South Slavey and Chipewyan.

Van Camp's seminal 1996 novel The Lesser Blessed was adapted into a film by First Generation Films. His other books include Angel Wing Splash Pattern, Night Moves and We Sang You Home.

On Sept. 30, Canada will mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to commemorate children who died while being forced to attend residential schools, those who survived and made it home, their families and communities still affected by the lasting trauma. 

In June 2022, Van Camp curated this list of books by Indigenous writers, highlighting the wide range and genre diversity of books by Indigenous authors. 

Like all awesome extroverts out there, I wake up starving for stories and connection. Luckily, one of the greatest joys in this sweet and blessed life of mine — to guarantee an overflow of my love cup — is to read and promote Indigenous literature. That's because it is our time to tell our own stories our way. 

This means the slang, the protocols, the culture, the customs — they are all welcome and needed to both inspire and floor international, national and local readers. 

I would gladly take these 25 books to a deserted desert island and I'd be just fine. In fact, I'd wake up in a handstand every single day just eager to dive back into the worlds each of these fine authors have created.

Like most children of the '70s and '80s, I grew up reading Judy Blume, The Savage Sword of Conan and Stephen King — but I realized somewhere along the way that no one was telling our stories. Nobody was talking about the joy of being born and raised in Fort Smith, N.W.T, and being Tłı̨chǫ Dene and also being a pop-culture disciple.

I remember saying out loud one day, "I want to write something that I would like to read" — and I've used this mantra all these years in the 26 books I have out in the world, and I would also add "not to hold back." 

Tell your story your way, and show us the beauty, the pain, the joy, the romance, the growing pains — and the pride of where you're from, and who you and your characters are and what they're aching for.

I always say that the story is the boss and it takes as long as it takes to hone your work. I often share in workshops that writing is like combing tangled hair. If you show up every day with an open mind and heart and really respect the spirit of the story, you will do just fine as a student of the craft of writing. 

This is very much a craft that humbles and surprises daily — and that's the fun!

That's the dizzy dance of being a writer and that writer's high you feel after a great day of writing — whether it's the perfect line, a few paragraphs or pages, or even figuring out where to put your em dashes to enhance something surprising even to you — there's nothing like it.

They say if you want to be a better writer, you have to become a better reader. So please read these books, and also read what other Indigenous authors have already done. We are all walking in huge trails created by visionaries like Jeannette Armstrong, Beth Brant, Ruby Slipperjack, Chrystos, Mini Aodla Freeman, Marie Annharte Baker, Maria Campbell and Beatrice Mosionier.