A book review of Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
Stars: ****
Annick Press (2025)
Teen Nonfiction>Indigenous
134 pages
Disclosure: I received this book for review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: A wide-ranging anthology that shines a light on untold Indigenous stories as chronicled by Indigenous creators, compiled by the acclaimed team behind What the Eagle Sees and Sky Wolf’s Call.
For too long, stories and artistic expressions from Indigenous people have been written and recorded by others, not by the individuals who have experienced the events.
In Ours to Tell, sixteen Indigenous creators relate traditions, accounts of historical events, and their own lived experiences. Novelists, poets, graphic artists, historians, craftspeople, and mapmakers chronicle stories on the struggles and triumphs lived by Indigenous people, and the impact these stories have had on their culture and history.
With each profile accompanied by rich visuals, from archival photos to contemporary art, Ours to Tell brilliantly spotlights Indigenous life, past and present, through an Indigenous lens. Because each profile gives an historical and cultural context, what emerges is a history of Indigenous people.
Ours to Tell
Reading through this book I see that learning about Indigenous history from non Indigenous sources leads to misinformation. I have learned about some commonly misunderstood historical events but I learned more only a few pages into the book.
This book is written with a teen reader in mind but is definitely great for adults too. The publisher, Annick Press’s website allows you to look at the Table of Contents, a thorough look inside AND an educator’s guide. I’ll be using this book in my homeschool next year and the educator’s guide will come in handy. Annick Press is great for Indigenous books in general.
Each chapter is a story about a certain Indigenous person who lived anywhere from 1531-now. There are plenty of photographs, art work and samples of writing included throughout. The book is very interesting and made me want to know more.
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