CRANDON – Because some school districts and libraries are banning history books nationwide in an outright culture war critical race theoryofficials at the Potawatomi Library in Crandon say their institution will always be the source of indigenous truth.
In 2021, Pennsylvania’s Central York School District banned several books by Indigenous authors, including “Fried Bread: A Native American Story” by Kevin Maillard “History of the Indigenous Peoples of the United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and “The People Will Endure” by Simon Ortiz.
These books shed light on the atrocities committed against indigenous peoples by European colonizers and how indigenous people survived and persevered.
Several parents in this district have raised concerns about teaching whites about guilt.
“(These books) contradict much of the history we were taught growing up in Western schools,” said Donald Keeble, director of Forest County Potawatomi Cultural Centerwhich houses the tribe’s library and museum. “Sometimes this story makes some people uncomfortable because when you’re involved in a true story, you take responsibility for what people have done in the past. It makes you feel like you’re almost connected to it. “
The ban in Central York was lifted a year later after student protests.
The Potawatomi Library opened in 2001 and contains approximately 4,000 titles by mostly indigenous authors from across Turtle Island (North American indigenous term).
“We have a lot of titles that I don’t think many traditional public libraries have,” said Samantha Smith, manager of the Potawatomi Cultural Center. “When I visit my local public library, I don’t see many native titles to begin with. That’s why we’re proud to have the latest, newest, and greatest books published by indigenous authors.”
The library is open to anyone who wants to check out titles, but students from across the state and the Midwest typically find useful resources there for their research work and can return materials when they’re done.
“I’ve always relied on books here to write articles and do research for my program,” said Keeble, who is preparing for a PhD in the First Nations Education Program at UW-Green Bay.
Local school districts also access the Potawatomi Library for teaching materials act 31 educational courses. Law 31 is a state requirement that Native American education be taught in public schools in Wisconsin.
Smith and Keeble usually recommend many books by Tim Tingle to school districts because they are historical fiction that is a hit with young readers.
“(Tingle’s books) create a space where readers can experience history without feeling like they’re reading something historical,” said Smith.
She said Tingle’s books are easy to read and offer a lot of Choctaw history.
Other books I recommend for young adults include: “Night guard” Louise Erdrich and her other novels “Weaving Sweet Grass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer who is Potawatomi.
Keeble said the library has books that go beyond indigenous historical figures well known in Western history, such as Black Hawk and Hiawatha.
“Here we have books about (Indigenous) athletes and astronauts, and we can have history books about people in college and activists,” he said.
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Frank Vaisvilas is a member of the Report for America corps covering Native American affairs in Wisconsin for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact him at the address fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. You can directly support his work with a tax-deductible donation online at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or a check made payable to The GroundTruth Project with the subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.