Indigenous Historical Fiction
Exploring older time periods: pre-Columbus, Native-settler relations, and Civil War time
Last week on The Novel Tea we discussed Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel. This book, inspired by the lives of the author’s ancestors, follows a mother and her daughter in an Algonquin tribe in the Great Lakes region, as French colonists enter their lives and homes. They must grapple with questions of love, trust, tradition, and betrayal as their differences begin to come between them.
The First Peoples books that we (and perhaps you) are most familiar with, including voices such as Louise Erdrich, Tommy Orange, and Sherman Alexie, have added rich texts to the canon. However, most of these works are set in the 20th and 21st centuries, and we found ourselves wanting a greater breadth of fiction to give us more context.
Reading Daughters of the Deer inspired us to read more historical fiction that centers Indigenous peoples pre-Columbus, during colonial invasion, and the immediate aftermath. Here are some books we’re looking forward to reading — we hope a few of these titles call out to you, as well:
A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power
Published in 2023 and longlisted for the National Book Award, this novel follows three generations of Yanktonai Dakota women from the 19th century to the present day, spanning from mid-century Chicago, to the ancestral lands of the Dakota people, to brutal Indian boarding schools.
Power, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, also wrote The Grass Dancer, Roofwalker (a collection of stories and essays), and Sacred Wilderness.
The Unweaving by Cheryl Parisien
In 1869, the arrival of surveyors from the new Dominion of Canada sends ripples of anxiety through the people of Red River. As the Métis1 Nation begins negotiating terms for joining the Confederation, the members of the Rougeau family each adapts in their own way. As the Red River Resistance unfolds, the consequences of their choices ultimately catch up with them.
Parisien is a Red River Métis writer whose ancestors lived around St. Norbert. The Unweaving, her first novel, is loosely based on her family’s history.
Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival by Velma Wallis
Based on an Athabascan legend of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is a tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine. They must now learn to survive on their own, or die trying.
Velma May Wallis is an American writer of Gwich'in Athabascan Indian descent. Her books have been translated into over 17 languages.
Fools Crow by James Welch
Set in the Two Medicine Territory of Montana just after the Civil War, this book tells the story of a Blackfeet man, Fools Crow, and his journey to protect his culture and community from the white soldiers destroying it.
The author, James Welch, grew up within the Blackfeet and A'aninin cultures of his parents. In 1997 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.
River Thieves by Michael Crummey
In 1810, David Buchan, a naval officer, arrives in the Bay of Exploits with orders to establish contact with the Beothuk, the Indigenous inhabitants of Newfoundland. However, his peace expedition soon goes awry. Years later, a second expedition to the winter camp leads to the kidnapping of a Native woman, and the murder of her husband. Buchan returns to investigate, and as he uncovers what really happens, an intricate web of obligation, debt, miscommunication, and loss is revealed.
Historical Context: The Great Lakes Region and Native-European Relations
In our episode on Daughters of the Deer, we talked about how the fur trade fueled conflict and contributed to the wars between Native peoples and European settlers. For a quick overview, check out this link:
How Fur Trade Resulted in All-Out War: The Algonquin vs. The Iroquois
For those interested in more in-depth information, here are some non-fiction books that explore the fur trade and Native-settler relations:
Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America by Eric Jay Dolin
Indigenous Continent: The Epic Contest for North America by Pekka Hämäläinen
Masters of Empire: Great Lakes Indians and the Making of America by Michael A. McDonnell
— Shruti
Next Up
Next on The Novel Tea, we’ll be covering Another Country by James Baldwin. This difficult-to-characterize book follows a group of friends and lovers in mid-century Manhattan as they grapple with love, pain, loss, and life. Tune in on November 13 to hear the full discussion!
Métis is a term used in Canada generally to refer to First Peoples