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Indiginerds
First Nations culture is living, vibrant, and evolving, and generations of Indigenous kids have grown up with pop culture creeping inexorably into our lives. From gaming to social media, pirate radio to garage bands, Star Trek to D&D, and missed connections at the pow wow, Indigenous culture is so much more than how it’s usually portrayed. INDIGNERDS is here to celebrate those stories! Featuring an all-Indigenous creative team, INDIGNERDS is an exhilarating anthology collecting 11 stories about Indigenous people balancing traditional ways of knowing with modern pop culture. Includes work by ALINA PETE, PJ UNDERWOOD, KAMERON WHITE, RHAEL MCGREGOR, and many more!
120 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
8 people are currently reading
1225 people want to read
About the author
Alina Pete
16 books13 followersAlina Pete was born in the frozen wastes of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. To survive the harsh Canadian winters, she took to doodling funny animals on any available surface in a feeble attempt to stay warm. After high school, Alina studied classical animation and went to the University of Saskatchewan in pursuit of a BFA (which remains uncompleted). She followed this up with a 3D animation certificate, just for good measure. Alina is a firm believer in overkill.
Over the years, Alina has lived in Albera, Fiji, Arizona and China. She really gets around! At various times she has worked as a web designer, an art gallery director, a graphic designer and a digital effects artist. Her talents are displayed in such projects as Wapos Boy (Gemini Award-winning children's animation for Canadian television) and her online comics, Weregeek and Moosehead Stew.
Alina is a proud member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Cree native reservation located in central Saskatchewan. In her spare time, Alina enjoys playing a wide variety of role-playing games, designing elaborate costumes for LARP, painting Warhammer miniatures and console video gaming. She currently lives in Northern Alberta with her devoted boyfriend Layne and her pet hedgehogs.
Over the years, Alina has lived in Albera, Fiji, Arizona and China. She really gets around! At various times she has worked as a web designer, an art gallery director, a graphic designer and a digital effects artist. Her talents are displayed in such projects as Wapos Boy (Gemini Award-winning children's animation for Canadian television) and her online comics, Weregeek and Moosehead Stew.
Alina is a proud member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Cree native reservation located in central Saskatchewan. In her spare time, Alina enjoys playing a wide variety of role-playing games, designing elaborate costumes for LARP, painting Warhammer miniatures and console video gaming. She currently lives in Northern Alberta with her devoted boyfriend Layne and her pet hedgehogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 5, 2024
Indiginerds is a heartfelt anthology of diverse graphic shorts by of Indigenous artists celebrating Indigenous joy in modern lived experiences. It is a collection of wonderfully crafted and extremely diverse tales put together by an entire team of Indigenous artists and writers.
The wide array of Indigenous experiences, the representation of all the different tribes and the beautiful First Nations culture was so stunning to read about. I truly learned quite a lot from this and cannot wait to seek out more from all these wonderful storytellers.
1. Missed Powwow Connection by Kameron White (4/5)
>> Simple but sweet story of sapphic love with really vibrant panels
>> Kameron White (he/him) - Black, Choctaw, and Cherokee
2. Amplification Adapation by Em Matson and Nipinet Landsem (3.5/5)
A band trying to make it after their equipment gets stolen right before having to perform at a competition. Loved the panels and the theme of community but wished for a little more depth.
>> Em Matson (they/she/he) - two spirit, Sault Ste Marie Ojibwe
>> Nipinet Landsem (they/them) - Anishinaabe and Michif, a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a citizen of the Manitoba Metis Federation
3. Uncured Horror by Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios (5/5)
A post by two indigenous horror critics goes viral. Loved loved loved this! I loved the theme of social media as a way to uplift indigenous voices and representation in art. loved the sapphic rep. Loved the gorgeous panels.
>> Gillian Joseph (they/them) - queer, 2-Spirit Ihanktonwan and Mdewakanton Dakota storyteller who grew up as a guest on Waxhaw and Catawba lands
>> Wren Rios (she/her) - trans-femme, queer, afro-latine
4. Welei (I Am Fine) by Bianca binkz17 and Rhael McGregor (5/5)
My absolute FAVORITE of the 11 stories. I felt so seen in this. A streamer tries to learn her native tongue through gaming and sharing her culture with others. The color palette of soft pinks and purples drew me in. The impostor syndrome and feelings of inadequacy seem universal for those wanting to get closer to their history and culture. This was perfect.
>> Bianca binkz17 (she/her) - Migmaw woman from so-called Canada
>> Rhael McGregor (they/them) - Métis
5. Airwave Pirates by Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood (4.5/5)
Moving abolitionist story of how punk is not just an aesthetic but also a political movement, about the history of Pirate Broadcasting and freedom of speech on online culture. This really highlighted on how laws calling for liberation are insidious and how they disguised as "soft colonialism and white supremacy." Stunning.
>> Autumn Star Chacon (she/her) - Navajo/Chicana
>> PJ Underwood (he/him) - Keetoowah
6. Roll Your Own Way by Jordanna George (3.5/5)
A gentle story about a D&D player finding comfort in a group that respects others. Bepsi!
>> Jordanna George (they/them) - queer, biracial from the T'Sou-ke Nation in Sooke, BC.
BVLBANCHA FOREVER
7. Bvlbancha Forever by Ida Aronson & Tate Allen (3/5)
A dense informative comic about the Bvlbancha Collective in the greater New Orleans area and their various projects, traditions, and communities. I wish it offered more of a flow, or had an introduction or a brief descriptor as I was really confused for the most part.
>> Ida Aronson (they/them) - citizen of the United Houma Nation (UHN) of southeastern "Louisiana"
>> Tate Allen (they/them) - two-spirit with ties to the Pomo and Choctaw nations
8. Walk the Earth Mother by Maija Plamondon and Milo Applejohn (4/5)
A story about a child who finds solace in World of Warcraft. Loved the theme of how even in something as simple as a game, representation truly matters with the various settings and the the depiction of characters inspired by native people.
>> Maija Plamondon (they/them) - Métis writer currently living on treaty 6 territory in Canada
>> Milo Applejohn (he/they) - based in Lhukw'lhukw'ayten (Burnaby Mountain)
9. Saving Throws by James Willier & Sam Mushki Medlock (5/5)
The heaviest of all the stories illustrating a tough life on a reservation, substance abuse, and the way that colonial trauma lives generations later in a community. The art is breathtaking. I loved how gaming, and D&D specifically, was not just an outlet through hard times, but also created a community of storytellers. I loved how storytelling was not just a haven but also way to process the external world.
>> James Willier (he/him) - from Sucker Creek Reserve in Treaty 8 territory: part of the Cree Nation
>> Sam Mushki Medlock (they/them)
10. Digital Eden by Raven John & Asia Wiseley (4.5/5)
Masks, and the metaphor of virtual reality as masks in the modern world was beautifully illustrated here. I loved the way the artist contrasted masking to make oneself palatable to colonialists while also having masks as a vehicle for freedom and expression. Loved the plus size and cute sapphic rep.
>> Raven John (they/she/him) - two-spirit activist of Coast Salish and Stolo Nation descent
>> Asia Wiseley "extinct inks" (they/them) - of the Pomo and Konkow Maidu peoples of Northern California, Japanese-American, two-spirit, and identify as agender nonbinary
11. Dorvan V by Alina Pete (4.5/5)
Loved how the author tackles how most classical scifi tropes is about conquering and colonizing planets and civilizing alien species. I didn't know about the fact that the Native rep in sci-fi media was sorely lacking and the author pushing for better and accurate representation is truly admirable. Can't wait to read their other works!
>> Alina Pete (they/them) - nehiyaw (Cree) from Little Pine First Nation in western Saskatchewan
The wide array of Indigenous experiences, the representation of all the different tribes and the beautiful First Nations culture was so stunning to read about. I truly learned quite a lot from this and cannot wait to seek out more from all these wonderful storytellers.
1. Missed Powwow Connection by Kameron White (4/5)
>> Simple but sweet story of sapphic love with really vibrant panels
>> Kameron White (he/him) - Black, Choctaw, and Cherokee
2. Amplification Adapation by Em Matson and Nipinet Landsem (3.5/5)
A band trying to make it after their equipment gets stolen right before having to perform at a competition. Loved the panels and the theme of community but wished for a little more depth.
>> Em Matson (they/she/he) - two spirit, Sault Ste Marie Ojibwe
>> Nipinet Landsem (they/them) - Anishinaabe and Michif, a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a citizen of the Manitoba Metis Federation
3. Uncured Horror by Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios (5/5)
A post by two indigenous horror critics goes viral. Loved loved loved this! I loved the theme of social media as a way to uplift indigenous voices and representation in art. loved the sapphic rep. Loved the gorgeous panels.
>> Gillian Joseph (they/them) - queer, 2-Spirit Ihanktonwan and Mdewakanton Dakota storyteller who grew up as a guest on Waxhaw and Catawba lands
>> Wren Rios (she/her) - trans-femme, queer, afro-latine
4. Welei (I Am Fine) by Bianca binkz17 and Rhael McGregor (5/5)
My absolute FAVORITE of the 11 stories. I felt so seen in this. A streamer tries to learn her native tongue through gaming and sharing her culture with others. The color palette of soft pinks and purples drew me in. The impostor syndrome and feelings of inadequacy seem universal for those wanting to get closer to their history and culture. This was perfect.
>> Bianca binkz17 (she/her) - Migmaw woman from so-called Canada
>> Rhael McGregor (they/them) - Métis
5. Airwave Pirates by Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood (4.5/5)
Moving abolitionist story of how punk is not just an aesthetic but also a political movement, about the history of Pirate Broadcasting and freedom of speech on online culture. This really highlighted on how laws calling for liberation are insidious and how they disguised as "soft colonialism and white supremacy." Stunning.
>> Autumn Star Chacon (she/her) - Navajo/Chicana
>> PJ Underwood (he/him) - Keetoowah
6. Roll Your Own Way by Jordanna George (3.5/5)
A gentle story about a D&D player finding comfort in a group that respects others. Bepsi!
>> Jordanna George (they/them) - queer, biracial from the T'Sou-ke Nation in Sooke, BC.
BVLBANCHA FOREVER
7. Bvlbancha Forever by Ida Aronson & Tate Allen (3/5)
A dense informative comic about the Bvlbancha Collective in the greater New Orleans area and their various projects, traditions, and communities. I wish it offered more of a flow, or had an introduction or a brief descriptor as I was really confused for the most part.
>> Ida Aronson (they/them) - citizen of the United Houma Nation (UHN) of southeastern "Louisiana"
>> Tate Allen (they/them) - two-spirit with ties to the Pomo and Choctaw nations
8. Walk the Earth Mother by Maija Plamondon and Milo Applejohn (4/5)
A story about a child who finds solace in World of Warcraft. Loved the theme of how even in something as simple as a game, representation truly matters with the various settings and the the depiction of characters inspired by native people.
>> Maija Plamondon (they/them) - Métis writer currently living on treaty 6 territory in Canada
>> Milo Applejohn (he/they) - based in Lhukw'lhukw'ayten (Burnaby Mountain)
9. Saving Throws by James Willier & Sam Mushki Medlock (5/5)
The heaviest of all the stories illustrating a tough life on a reservation, substance abuse, and the way that colonial trauma lives generations later in a community. The art is breathtaking. I loved how gaming, and D&D specifically, was not just an outlet through hard times, but also created a community of storytellers. I loved how storytelling was not just a haven but also way to process the external world.
>> James Willier (he/him) - from Sucker Creek Reserve in Treaty 8 territory: part of the Cree Nation
>> Sam Mushki Medlock (they/them)
10. Digital Eden by Raven John & Asia Wiseley (4.5/5)
Masks, and the metaphor of virtual reality as masks in the modern world was beautifully illustrated here. I loved the way the artist contrasted masking to make oneself palatable to colonialists while also having masks as a vehicle for freedom and expression. Loved the plus size and cute sapphic rep.
>> Raven John (they/she/him) - two-spirit activist of Coast Salish and Stolo Nation descent
>> Asia Wiseley "extinct inks" (they/them) - of the Pomo and Konkow Maidu peoples of Northern California, Japanese-American, two-spirit, and identify as agender nonbinary
11. Dorvan V by Alina Pete (4.5/5)
Loved how the author tackles how most classical scifi tropes is about conquering and colonizing planets and civilizing alien species. I didn't know about the fact that the Native rep in sci-fi media was sorely lacking and the author pushing for better and accurate representation is truly admirable. Can't wait to read their other works!
>> Alina Pete (they/them) - nehiyaw (Cree) from Little Pine First Nation in western Saskatchewan
September 24, 2024
I loved each of the stories and the art styles. Each short comic story had such heart, and they all fit nicely together.
It's so cool seeing a collection of Indigenous comics! I really hope to see more very soon, and I will absolutely be recommending this collection to my friends.
Massive thank you to Netgalley and Letter Better Publishing Services for a digital copy.
It's so cool seeing a collection of Indigenous comics! I really hope to see more very soon, and I will absolutely be recommending this collection to my friends.
Massive thank you to Netgalley and Letter Better Publishing Services for a digital copy.
October 16, 2024
A love letter to nerd culture and Indigenous people. Indiginerds is a collection of short illustrated stories about nerdy Indigenous people. Some of the stories are lighthearted and funny, others are informative and heavier. And if I’m correct, almost all of the contributors are LBTQIA+!
I loved the short slice-of-life stories and adored the art style of most of them. Especially the story about the queer couple starting a platform for Indigenous horror film lovers was absolutely beautiful to me. I enjoyed some stories a bit less as they were significantly shorter than the others, making it hard to connect emotionally to anything that was happening, and some art styles weren’t my taste.
That being said, the message of these stories are incredibly powerful and important. We learn how nerd culture can be a place of comfort for many Indigenous people, how it’s a place they can recognise themselves in. For example: how there’s a race in World of Warcraft inspired by Native people (Tauren) and how the storytelling in D&D is similar to the way traditional Indigenous stories were told. In nerd culture, they can feel connected to their own culture.
Would definitely recommend!
I loved the short slice-of-life stories and adored the art style of most of them. Especially the story about the queer couple starting a platform for Indigenous horror film lovers was absolutely beautiful to me. I enjoyed some stories a bit less as they were significantly shorter than the others, making it hard to connect emotionally to anything that was happening, and some art styles weren’t my taste.
That being said, the message of these stories are incredibly powerful and important. We learn how nerd culture can be a place of comfort for many Indigenous people, how it’s a place they can recognise themselves in. For example: how there’s a race in World of Warcraft inspired by Native people (Tauren) and how the storytelling in D&D is similar to the way traditional Indigenous stories were told. In nerd culture, they can feel connected to their own culture.
Would definitely recommend!
October 31, 2024
A nice collection of stories about nerdy Indigenous people enjoying their hobbies and being activists.
As with any anthology with so many creators, some stories are better than others, but it averages out pretty well. My main quibble is that there seems to be a mix of autobiography, dramatization, and fiction. In a book intended to educate as well as celebrate, I would have appreciated an indication as to which stories are factual and which are more aspirational.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Foreword / Alina Pete -- Missed Pow Wow Connection / Kameron White -- Amplification Adaption / Em Matson and Nipinet Landsem -- Uncured Horror / Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios -- Welei (I Am Fine) / Bianca "binkz17" Martin and Rhael McGregor -- Airwave Pirates / Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood -- Roll Your Own Way / Jordanna George -- Bvlbancha Forever / Ida Aronson, writer; Tate Allen, illustrator -- Walk with the Earth Mother / Maija Plamondon and Milo Applejohn -- Saving Throws / James Willier and Sam "Mushki" Medlock -- Digital Eden / Raven John and Asia Wiseley -- Dorvan V / Alina Pete -- Concepts and Development -- Contributors -- About the Editor
As with any anthology with so many creators, some stories are better than others, but it averages out pretty well. My main quibble is that there seems to be a mix of autobiography, dramatization, and fiction. In a book intended to educate as well as celebrate, I would have appreciated an indication as to which stories are factual and which are more aspirational.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Foreword / Alina Pete -- Missed Pow Wow Connection / Kameron White -- Amplification Adaption / Em Matson and Nipinet Landsem -- Uncured Horror / Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios -- Welei (I Am Fine) / Bianca "binkz17" Martin and Rhael McGregor -- Airwave Pirates / Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood -- Roll Your Own Way / Jordanna George -- Bvlbancha Forever / Ida Aronson, writer; Tate Allen, illustrator -- Walk with the Earth Mother / Maija Plamondon and Milo Applejohn -- Saving Throws / James Willier and Sam "Mushki" Medlock -- Digital Eden / Raven John and Asia Wiseley -- Dorvan V / Alina Pete -- Concepts and Development -- Contributors -- About the Editor
December 27, 2024
A new book my library recently got. Can't wait to push it on my nerdy library teens (97)
May 4, 2025
Nerdiness as cope and activism. I dig it.
October 23, 2024
3.5 stars.
November 8, 2024
Loved the idea of this but felt like the individual stories were too short, a couple were over before they even felt like they had begun.
November 27, 2024
This is such a fun anthology graphic novel! I love how Indiginerds displays modern Native people! Each story was interesting and I loved seeing the different art styles.
April 13, 2025
Slice of life, indigenous lives shared with us. It's a fun read, and all the stories are quick bites from different indigenous, LGBT+ creators.
December 16, 2025
Yet another book for young adults that would've been life changing for me if it existed then.
December 28, 2025
Fun and exciting read!
June 4, 2025
Really beautiful and basically a directory of contemporary indigenous creators. Thank god for books.
May 17, 2024
Anthologies are always a mixed bag, and Indiginerds is no different. I will say, I didn't dislike any of the included comics, though most were pretty mid for me. A few of them felt off theme; there were more non-fiction comics than I expected. My favorites were the first two stories: Missed Powwow Connection and Amplification Adaptation.
TW: anti-Indigenous racism
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
TW: anti-Indigenous racism
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
September 9, 2024
"one normal day in so-called Canada"
oof 11 stories in 125 pgs was not the move. None of the stories had time to breathe, the conflicts (if any) were solvable in a page or 2 because it's all they had space for, and it was almost all telling, not showing like it felt like the end of a documentary giving recaps of where people are now however I missed the whole documentary so it was hard for me to really feel anything for the specific people mentioned. Super cute concept, just really needed to be longer
oof 11 stories in 125 pgs was not the move. None of the stories had time to breathe, the conflicts (if any) were solvable in a page or 2 because it's all they had space for, and it was almost all telling, not showing like it felt like the end of a documentary giving recaps of where people are now however I missed the whole documentary so it was hard for me to really feel anything for the specific people mentioned. Super cute concept, just really needed to be longer
November 23, 2025
🏳️🌈Rep: Indigenous, Biracial & Multiracial, Two-Spirit, Queer, Trans, Nonbinary, Sapphic
📝Tropes/Themes: Indigenous Culture, TTRPG, Digital Community, Creativity, Family Relationships, Friendship, Modern Indigenous Life
This was an incredible comic anthology! The stories were all so unique and meaningful. I was not just entertained by these comics either. They were informative and educational as well. I was learning about Indigenous culture, language, and heritage. Even some of the shortest comics left me feeling hopeful and inspired. Some stories are more lighthearted while others dive into more intense topics like racism and alcoholism and the erasure of Indigenous culture and people and the silencing of Indigenous voices. But these stories are all also celebrations of the creativity and contributions of Indigenous people in modern society, and of the importance and power of community, connection, and belonging. And in addition to the all Indigenous creative team that put this anthology together, there is a TON of 2SLGBTQ+ representation both in the stories themselves and the artists/writers.
I highly recommend this anthology and I definitely want to check out other works by these creators!
STORIES/CREATORS:
🗯️Missed Pow Wow Connection - A short and sweet story about a Pow Wow meet-cute and sapphic pining.
✏️Kameron White (he/him) - Black, Choctaw, and Cherokee Artist/Illustrator
🗯️Amplification Adaptation - An Indigenous band’s custom drum kit gets stolen hours before a competition and creativity and community work together to save the day.
✏️Em Matson (they/she/he) - Two-Spirit, Sault Ste Marie Ojibwe
✏️Nipinet Landsem (they/them) - Anishinaabe and Michif
🗯️Uncured Horror - A horror loving sapphic couple goes viral on Instagram and they end up creating an Indigenous Horror community collaboration. But they have to rely on the community to fight the “big bad company” trying to silence them. One of my favorites!
✏️Gillian Joseph (they/them) - Queer, Two-Spirit Ihanktonwan and Mdewakanton Dakota
✏️Wren Rios (she/her) - Trans-femme, Queer, Afro-Latine Author/Illustrator
🗯️Welei (I Am Fine) - A streamer decides to use her platform to do her part to help educate people about Indigenous culture and language, and to help her improve as well. But she struggles with imposter syndrome and wonders if any of it, and she, even matters.
✏️Bianca binkz17 Martin (she/her) - Mi’gmaw Woman
✏️Rhael McGregor (they/them) - Métis comic Artist
🗯️Airwave Pirates - A powerful story about freedom of speech and community activism through pirate radio/broadcasting, as well as the ongoing effects of colonialism and white supremacy and the need for disruptors and revolutionaries who fight against it. One of the stories that taught me the most!
✏️Autumn Chacon (she/her) - Navajo/Chicano Artist/Activist
✏️PJ Underwood (he/him) - Keetoowah Artist
🗯️Roll Your Own Way - A short story about TTRPG, the problematic/racist plots of some of the options out there, and the importance and power of finding a game and group that feel safe and affirming.
✏️Jordanna George (they/them) - Queer Biracial Illustrator/Writer from the T’Sou-ke Nation in Sooke, BC.
🗯️Bvlbancha Forever - This comic was more information than story, focused on the Bvlbancha Collective and The Houma Language Project.
✏️Ida Aronson (they/them) - United Houma Nation
✏️Tate Allen (they/them) - Two-Spirit Pomo/Choctaw Artist
🗯️Walk with the Earth Mother - This was a short story about the power of online community and the sense of belonging that can be found in online games like World of Warcraft. It is also a little about grief, loss, and loneliness.
✏️Maija Plamondon (they/them) - Métis Writer
✏️Milo Applejohn (he/they) - Graphic Novelist/Illustrator based in Lhukw’lhukw’ayten
🗯️Saving Throws - This was a heavier story about the struggles of life on a reservation and the impacts of alcoholism and substance abuse. It’s also about how TTRPG is more than just playing games. It’s about community, friendship, and storytelling.
✏️James Willier (he/him) - Cree Nation, from Sucker Creek Reserve in Treaty 8 Territory
✏️Sam “Mushki” Medlock (they/them)
🗯️Digital Eden - A beautiful and heartwrenching story about all the masks we wear to survive and hide, but also to transform ourselves. It’s another story about the powerful impact of digital communities and creating spaces where we can exist openly as we are. Loved the plus size and sapphic rep!
✏️Raven John (they/she/him) - Two-Spirit Artist/Activist/Comedian of Coast Salish and Stolo Nation descent
✏️Asia Wiseley (they/them) - Two-Spirit, Agender/Nonbinary, Pomo and Konkow Maidu, Japanese American
🗯️Dorvan V - This story was both a love letter to science fiction and a petition for better, authentic representation of Indigenous people in scifi media. I loved the nonbinary MC and I have some shows/movies I need to check out now!
✏️Alina Pete (they/them) - nehiyaw (Cree) Writer/Artist from Little Pine First Nation in Western Saskatchewan
⚠️TW/CW: racism, mentions/themes of colonization/colonialism/white supremacy, mentions of depression and anxiety, theft, alcohol use, drug use, mentions of alcoholism, mention of house fire, COVID pandemic
📝Tropes/Themes: Indigenous Culture, TTRPG, Digital Community, Creativity, Family Relationships, Friendship, Modern Indigenous Life
This was an incredible comic anthology! The stories were all so unique and meaningful. I was not just entertained by these comics either. They were informative and educational as well. I was learning about Indigenous culture, language, and heritage. Even some of the shortest comics left me feeling hopeful and inspired. Some stories are more lighthearted while others dive into more intense topics like racism and alcoholism and the erasure of Indigenous culture and people and the silencing of Indigenous voices. But these stories are all also celebrations of the creativity and contributions of Indigenous people in modern society, and of the importance and power of community, connection, and belonging. And in addition to the all Indigenous creative team that put this anthology together, there is a TON of 2SLGBTQ+ representation both in the stories themselves and the artists/writers.
I highly recommend this anthology and I definitely want to check out other works by these creators!
STORIES/CREATORS:
🗯️Missed Pow Wow Connection - A short and sweet story about a Pow Wow meet-cute and sapphic pining.
✏️Kameron White (he/him) - Black, Choctaw, and Cherokee Artist/Illustrator
🗯️Amplification Adaptation - An Indigenous band’s custom drum kit gets stolen hours before a competition and creativity and community work together to save the day.
✏️Em Matson (they/she/he) - Two-Spirit, Sault Ste Marie Ojibwe
✏️Nipinet Landsem (they/them) - Anishinaabe and Michif
🗯️Uncured Horror - A horror loving sapphic couple goes viral on Instagram and they end up creating an Indigenous Horror community collaboration. But they have to rely on the community to fight the “big bad company” trying to silence them. One of my favorites!
✏️Gillian Joseph (they/them) - Queer, Two-Spirit Ihanktonwan and Mdewakanton Dakota
✏️Wren Rios (she/her) - Trans-femme, Queer, Afro-Latine Author/Illustrator
🗯️Welei (I Am Fine) - A streamer decides to use her platform to do her part to help educate people about Indigenous culture and language, and to help her improve as well. But she struggles with imposter syndrome and wonders if any of it, and she, even matters.
✏️Bianca binkz17 Martin (she/her) - Mi’gmaw Woman
✏️Rhael McGregor (they/them) - Métis comic Artist
🗯️Airwave Pirates - A powerful story about freedom of speech and community activism through pirate radio/broadcasting, as well as the ongoing effects of colonialism and white supremacy and the need for disruptors and revolutionaries who fight against it. One of the stories that taught me the most!
✏️Autumn Chacon (she/her) - Navajo/Chicano Artist/Activist
✏️PJ Underwood (he/him) - Keetoowah Artist
🗯️Roll Your Own Way - A short story about TTRPG, the problematic/racist plots of some of the options out there, and the importance and power of finding a game and group that feel safe and affirming.
✏️Jordanna George (they/them) - Queer Biracial Illustrator/Writer from the T’Sou-ke Nation in Sooke, BC.
🗯️Bvlbancha Forever - This comic was more information than story, focused on the Bvlbancha Collective and The Houma Language Project.
✏️Ida Aronson (they/them) - United Houma Nation
✏️Tate Allen (they/them) - Two-Spirit Pomo/Choctaw Artist
🗯️Walk with the Earth Mother - This was a short story about the power of online community and the sense of belonging that can be found in online games like World of Warcraft. It is also a little about grief, loss, and loneliness.
✏️Maija Plamondon (they/them) - Métis Writer
✏️Milo Applejohn (he/they) - Graphic Novelist/Illustrator based in Lhukw’lhukw’ayten
🗯️Saving Throws - This was a heavier story about the struggles of life on a reservation and the impacts of alcoholism and substance abuse. It’s also about how TTRPG is more than just playing games. It’s about community, friendship, and storytelling.
✏️James Willier (he/him) - Cree Nation, from Sucker Creek Reserve in Treaty 8 Territory
✏️Sam “Mushki” Medlock (they/them)
🗯️Digital Eden - A beautiful and heartwrenching story about all the masks we wear to survive and hide, but also to transform ourselves. It’s another story about the powerful impact of digital communities and creating spaces where we can exist openly as we are. Loved the plus size and sapphic rep!
✏️Raven John (they/she/him) - Two-Spirit Artist/Activist/Comedian of Coast Salish and Stolo Nation descent
✏️Asia Wiseley (they/them) - Two-Spirit, Agender/Nonbinary, Pomo and Konkow Maidu, Japanese American
🗯️Dorvan V - This story was both a love letter to science fiction and a petition for better, authentic representation of Indigenous people in scifi media. I loved the nonbinary MC and I have some shows/movies I need to check out now!
✏️Alina Pete (they/them) - nehiyaw (Cree) Writer/Artist from Little Pine First Nation in Western Saskatchewan
⚠️TW/CW: racism, mentions/themes of colonization/colonialism/white supremacy, mentions of depression and anxiety, theft, alcohol use, drug use, mentions of alcoholism, mention of house fire, COVID pandemic
December 6, 2025
While I really liked a few of the stories, overall, I felt like they lacked depth and direction. Because it is a collection of stories shared from various Indigenous points of view, there were different nerd topics showcased, but not each of them hit their mark like I would have hoped. I understand that when you're creating a collection like this, you want to make sure the included panels don't feel as if they're too big to be a "short story" of sorts, but it really would've benefitted from a few having more. When a story is only 5 pages, and told in graphic form, you have to really nail your topic to make that stick.
Overall, I'd only suggest this to showcase the Native writers, not necessarily because I feel the text does a great job at showcasing a new view of their culture.
Story Reviews
Missed Pow Wow Connection: 2.5/5 - This was okay. It felt underdeveloped because we don't see any of the connection being built between the two FMCs. I didn't mind that they're showcasing the normalcy of Indigenous life, but this just felt too minimal for a story to really be shown.
Amplification Adaptation: 3/5 - I wanted to like this because I love the idea of a grunge band being formed on the reserve and building their own drums to share as a unit, how neat! But again, without building a connection to these characters, the stories just feel like "Hey, we do that thing too!" and doesn't help really showcase their culture in those typical everyday things.
Uncured Horror: 4/5 - This is the best one yet. There is a clear storyline of a review platform hitting their viral popularity and using that to lift their community. I love that they went with the idea of a "big bad company" trying to steal and aquire a small company that is making waves. They use the sense of community they've fostered to strengthen their venture and shutdown the takeover.
Welei (I Am Fine): 3/5 - While the messaging in this one is cute, it's so basic. I love the idea of using streaming to teach a language, especially using a popular game. That is a brilliant way to bring in new speakers or just make the language more well-known. However, the story itself was so basic and the repetition of the streamers name made it feels juvenile. But this was my favorite art style so far. Page 50 is stunning.
Airwave Pirates: 4/5 - This is the best one so far. It was fascinating to learn about pirate radio and the ways the laws have changed and evolved around it. I loved seeing the evolution of it's power and the places it has held impact. This is a topic I would love to dive into further. I also feel the art made this piece more engaging. It fits with the misfit characteristic of punk pirates.
Roll Your Own Way: 2/5 - Oof, this one really suffered from lack of context. Because I've read a lot of graphic novels, I know what I'm looking for. But if you're a novice reader or don't understand the implications of a conqueror game possibly being hard for a Native, this entire story will go right over your head. It's an important aspect to bring up, one I wouldn't have thought about without this story, but the panels don't give enough for it.
Bvlbancha Forever: 2/5 - It was cool to see the inclusion of real companies making a difference in this community, but this was such a basic overview and the panels, while beautiful, we really lacking.
Walk With the Earth Mother: 3.5/5 - As someone very familiar with WOW, I was surprised to learn about the connections to the Indigenous lands and people. It was cool to see someone feel represented in the game and get to showcase themselves in a cultural light. I also felt this story did a good job at showcasing why this was important, the MC's struggle and insecurities, as well as the importance of getting it back into his life.
Saving Throws: 3/5 - This was more developed than a lot of the other stories, but it was pretty dark. I know a lot of the stereotypes that runthrough the reservations, but it's still a heavy subject. I did appreciate the traveling to the D&D lands though, the art was stunning and it was nice, even as a reader, to have that break.
Digital Eden: 2.5/5 - This one is tough because I love the idea behind it (and the art), but being that the message of the book is prompted as "we're not just what we hate about how you've seen us," it feels like this story doesn't leave that message behind. I didn't want the characters to only feel their truth outside of the real world.
Dorvan V: 3.5/5 - This was a really fun and hopeful story to have at the end. I like that we were presented with all sides here, seeing how there was a struggle, but then a found sense of community at the end. I just think it could've had a little more of the in-between shown, rather than the huge time jumps.
Overall, I'd only suggest this to showcase the Native writers, not necessarily because I feel the text does a great job at showcasing a new view of their culture.
Story Reviews
Missed Pow Wow Connection: 2.5/5 - This was okay. It felt underdeveloped because we don't see any of the connection being built between the two FMCs. I didn't mind that they're showcasing the normalcy of Indigenous life, but this just felt too minimal for a story to really be shown.
Amplification Adaptation: 3/5 - I wanted to like this because I love the idea of a grunge band being formed on the reserve and building their own drums to share as a unit, how neat! But again, without building a connection to these characters, the stories just feel like "Hey, we do that thing too!" and doesn't help really showcase their culture in those typical everyday things.
Uncured Horror: 4/5 - This is the best one yet. There is a clear storyline of a review platform hitting their viral popularity and using that to lift their community. I love that they went with the idea of a "big bad company" trying to steal and aquire a small company that is making waves. They use the sense of community they've fostered to strengthen their venture and shutdown the takeover.
Welei (I Am Fine): 3/5 - While the messaging in this one is cute, it's so basic. I love the idea of using streaming to teach a language, especially using a popular game. That is a brilliant way to bring in new speakers or just make the language more well-known. However, the story itself was so basic and the repetition of the streamers name made it feels juvenile. But this was my favorite art style so far. Page 50 is stunning.
Airwave Pirates: 4/5 - This is the best one so far. It was fascinating to learn about pirate radio and the ways the laws have changed and evolved around it. I loved seeing the evolution of it's power and the places it has held impact. This is a topic I would love to dive into further. I also feel the art made this piece more engaging. It fits with the misfit characteristic of punk pirates.
Roll Your Own Way: 2/5 - Oof, this one really suffered from lack of context. Because I've read a lot of graphic novels, I know what I'm looking for. But if you're a novice reader or don't understand the implications of a conqueror game possibly being hard for a Native, this entire story will go right over your head. It's an important aspect to bring up, one I wouldn't have thought about without this story, but the panels don't give enough for it.
Bvlbancha Forever: 2/5 - It was cool to see the inclusion of real companies making a difference in this community, but this was such a basic overview and the panels, while beautiful, we really lacking.
Walk With the Earth Mother: 3.5/5 - As someone very familiar with WOW, I was surprised to learn about the connections to the Indigenous lands and people. It was cool to see someone feel represented in the game and get to showcase themselves in a cultural light. I also felt this story did a good job at showcasing why this was important, the MC's struggle and insecurities, as well as the importance of getting it back into his life.
Saving Throws: 3/5 - This was more developed than a lot of the other stories, but it was pretty dark. I know a lot of the stereotypes that runthrough the reservations, but it's still a heavy subject. I did appreciate the traveling to the D&D lands though, the art was stunning and it was nice, even as a reader, to have that break.
Digital Eden: 2.5/5 - This one is tough because I love the idea behind it (and the art), but being that the message of the book is prompted as "we're not just what we hate about how you've seen us," it feels like this story doesn't leave that message behind. I didn't want the characters to only feel their truth outside of the real world.
Dorvan V: 3.5/5 - This was a really fun and hopeful story to have at the end. I like that we were presented with all sides here, seeing how there was a struggle, but then a found sense of community at the end. I just think it could've had a little more of the in-between shown, rather than the huge time jumps.
Read
May 19, 2025This graphic anthology is a great example of why I will always read anything I can get my hands on by Alina Pete.
With a mix of biography and fiction, this collection tells the story of young people who are indigenous and love all things nerdy and punk, whether it is creating music, Dungeons and Dragons, online gaming, streaming, screen writing, pirate radio, or creating an online horror review site focused on native perspectives on horror. Each of the individuals or fiction characters depicted discover community among fellow nerds and in turn build community for others.
Indiginerds collects 11 visual stories crafted by 19 writers and artists who show how Indigenous youth who combine their love of pop culture with traditional ways of knowing and learning.
My favorites:
“Uncured Horror” by Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios tells of a couple whose post about a horror film goes viral and they create a website for other native horror fans to write reviews only to have a huge corporation attempt to force them to sell their site and idea. I don't want to give away too much except to say, the community they create has their back!
"Airwaves Pirate" by Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood, tells the story of a teenager who discovers pirate radio through punk rock and realizes it is a way for native communities to communicate and tell their own stories. She becomes active in helping Oaxacans get the word out about a corrupt governor who jailed people who protested him, and then active in helping various tribes develop their own radios stations only to find the nonprofits who supported her used her to access these communities. (I won't give away the end.)
Dorvan V by Alina Pete shows what a native writer can do when given the opportunity to write optimistic SF from a perspective of ingenious peoples. This story directly references Star Trek Next Generation's cringy episode "Journey's End." For those not in the know, Star Fleet and Capt. Picard, make plans to forcibly remove human settlers who are descended from tribes on Turtle Island form Dorvan V in order to give the planet to Cardassians as part of a peace treaty. In Pete's story, they show the cultural influences on her childhood and the impact of "Journey's End" with an adult's perspective that skewers the episode's most-cringy parts. Pete grows frustrated with the colonist themes in SF and then during the pandemic returns to the genre and has an opportunity to cowrite an optimistic science fiction show. (If your curious, you can see the proof of concept trailer at https://vimeo.com/791572331 and updates at https://www.facebook.com/SynthesisSea....)
With a mix of biography and fiction, this collection tells the story of young people who are indigenous and love all things nerdy and punk, whether it is creating music, Dungeons and Dragons, online gaming, streaming, screen writing, pirate radio, or creating an online horror review site focused on native perspectives on horror. Each of the individuals or fiction characters depicted discover community among fellow nerds and in turn build community for others.
Indiginerds collects 11 visual stories crafted by 19 writers and artists who show how Indigenous youth who combine their love of pop culture with traditional ways of knowing and learning.
My favorites:
“Uncured Horror” by Gillian Joseph and Wren Rios tells of a couple whose post about a horror film goes viral and they create a website for other native horror fans to write reviews only to have a huge corporation attempt to force them to sell their site and idea. I don't want to give away too much except to say, the community they create has their back!
"Airwaves Pirate" by Autumn Chacon and PJ Underwood, tells the story of a teenager who discovers pirate radio through punk rock and realizes it is a way for native communities to communicate and tell their own stories. She becomes active in helping Oaxacans get the word out about a corrupt governor who jailed people who protested him, and then active in helping various tribes develop their own radios stations only to find the nonprofits who supported her used her to access these communities. (I won't give away the end.)
Dorvan V by Alina Pete shows what a native writer can do when given the opportunity to write optimistic SF from a perspective of ingenious peoples. This story directly references Star Trek Next Generation's cringy episode "Journey's End." For those not in the know, Star Fleet and Capt. Picard, make plans to forcibly remove human settlers who are descended from tribes on Turtle Island form Dorvan V in order to give the planet to Cardassians as part of a peace treaty. In Pete's story, they show the cultural influences on her childhood and the impact of "Journey's End" with an adult's perspective that skewers the episode's most-cringy parts. Pete grows frustrated with the colonist themes in SF and then during the pandemic returns to the genre and has an opportunity to cowrite an optimistic science fiction show. (If your curious, you can see the proof of concept trailer at https://vimeo.com/791572331 and updates at https://www.facebook.com/SynthesisSea....)
May 17, 2025
This is a lovely collection of distinctively "indigenous" voices from North America (unless I missed something... primarily Canada/U.S. with a bit of Mexico), with a definitively "nerdy" touch!
A couple of the stories ("Airwave Pirates", "Bvlbancha Forever") deal with radio, which is an interesting overlap, and several are autobiographical. I mean, they could ALL be, since I would imagine that MOST stories are at least a little autobiographical, but some feel very clearly "This is my direct experience" while others are more "Here's a story about some random indigenous folks."
I'm... not sure what I can effectively say about this book in my review, other than I absolutely know where the love of tabletop/roleplay is coming from ("Roll Your Own Way", "Walk with the Earth Mother", "Saving Throws"). Sadly, indigenous voices are still relatively rare in media (hence this anthology!), so there's a limit that I can attest to, "YES, this is absolutely the Cree/Micmac/reservation experience!" as an Asian-American myself. The most I know from "direct" experience is a friend who got DOGEd had worked primarily with indigenous groups and attested to the criminally extreme levels of poverty that those in the reservations had to live with.
So, you know... THAT'S fun, having yet another box on the neverending checklist of things I want to help fix but can't because I don't have LITERALLY INFINITE MONEY.
Still, do I trust these stories to be reasonably authentic? VERY YES, Iron Circus is super good and enthusiastic about this exact thing! (Certainly better than Star Trek, to say the least.)
Absolutely recommended for readers interested in decolonising your bookshelf, especially nerdy readers!
A couple of the stories ("Airwave Pirates", "Bvlbancha Forever") deal with radio, which is an interesting overlap, and several are autobiographical. I mean, they could ALL be, since I would imagine that MOST stories are at least a little autobiographical, but some feel very clearly "This is my direct experience" while others are more "Here's a story about some random indigenous folks."
I'm... not sure what I can effectively say about this book in my review, other than I absolutely know where the love of tabletop/roleplay is coming from ("Roll Your Own Way", "Walk with the Earth Mother", "Saving Throws"). Sadly, indigenous voices are still relatively rare in media (hence this anthology!), so there's a limit that I can attest to, "YES, this is absolutely the Cree/Micmac/reservation experience!" as an Asian-American myself. The most I know from "direct" experience is a friend who got DOGEd had worked primarily with indigenous groups and attested to the criminally extreme levels of poverty that those in the reservations had to live with.
So, you know... THAT'S fun, having yet another box on the neverending checklist of things I want to help fix but can't because I don't have LITERALLY INFINITE MONEY.
Still, do I trust these stories to be reasonably authentic? VERY YES, Iron Circus is super good and enthusiastic about this exact thing! (Certainly better than Star Trek, to say the least.)
Absolutely recommended for readers interested in decolonising your bookshelf, especially nerdy readers!
September 18, 2024
**Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.
Indiginerds by Alina Pete is a collection short stories by Indigenous writers and artists about Indigenous peoples engaging in various aspects of popular culture. It is done in a graphic novel style. The book was published on August 27th, 2024. I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Here's the summary from Goodreads:
First Nations culture is living, vibrant, and evolving, and generations of Indigenous kids have grown up with pop culture creeping inexorably into our lives. From gaming to social media, pirate radio to garage bands, Star Trek to D&D, and missed connections at the pow wow, Indigenous culture is so much more than how it’s usually portrayed. INDIGNERDS is here to celebrate those stories! Featuring an all-Indigenous creative team, INDIGNERDS is an exhilarating anthology collecting 11 stories about Indigenous people balancing traditional ways of knowing with modern pop culture. Includes work by ALINA PETE, PJ UNDERWOOD, KAMERON WHITE, RHAEL MCGREGOR, and many more!
This was a really interesting collection of short stories. They were all quick reads which made it really easy to put down between sections and also easy to come back to after time away. Each story has its own distinct flavour, which makes sense since they each have their own author/artist. I really enjoyed all of the different art styles and the ways that the stories were expressed.
I also really appreciated the way that this felt so modern. It was nice to see these stories and how they related to aspects of popular culture. I loved picking up on the references to things like Dungeons and Dragons and Star Trek, and seeing those in connection to First Nations culture. It's important to remember that Indigenous people are not a thing of the past like some people might like to believe. This was a really beautiful way of addressing that. I definitely recommend this collection.
Indiginerds by Alina Pete is a collection short stories by Indigenous writers and artists about Indigenous peoples engaging in various aspects of popular culture. It is done in a graphic novel style. The book was published on August 27th, 2024. I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Here's the summary from Goodreads:
First Nations culture is living, vibrant, and evolving, and generations of Indigenous kids have grown up with pop culture creeping inexorably into our lives. From gaming to social media, pirate radio to garage bands, Star Trek to D&D, and missed connections at the pow wow, Indigenous culture is so much more than how it’s usually portrayed. INDIGNERDS is here to celebrate those stories! Featuring an all-Indigenous creative team, INDIGNERDS is an exhilarating anthology collecting 11 stories about Indigenous people balancing traditional ways of knowing with modern pop culture. Includes work by ALINA PETE, PJ UNDERWOOD, KAMERON WHITE, RHAEL MCGREGOR, and many more!
This was a really interesting collection of short stories. They were all quick reads which made it really easy to put down between sections and also easy to come back to after time away. Each story has its own distinct flavour, which makes sense since they each have their own author/artist. I really enjoyed all of the different art styles and the ways that the stories were expressed.
I also really appreciated the way that this felt so modern. It was nice to see these stories and how they related to aspects of popular culture. I loved picking up on the references to things like Dungeons and Dragons and Star Trek, and seeing those in connection to First Nations culture. It's important to remember that Indigenous people are not a thing of the past like some people might like to believe. This was a really beautiful way of addressing that. I definitely recommend this collection.
September 16, 2024
[Review copy was purchased via the book's fundraiser. Some of the stories in Indiginerds reference heavier topics, such as domestic violence and bullying, though not in great depth.]
Indiginerds is a graphic novel anthology about modern and nerdy Indigenous life. This anthology was obviously curated with a great deal of thought and care, and I really appreciated the breadth of the stories told in these pages. There were some nerdy staples I expected, like D&D and Star Trek, but there were several areas that surprised me, like pirate radio stations and local music scenes, neither of which I have engaged with much if at all. It was fun to see glimpses of these other pop culture communities I know little about. The anthology featured a couple of autobiographical pieces, too, which were a delight to read.
Like any anthology, readers will find some stories that resonate with them more than others. I was particularly fond of “Missed Pow Wow Connection” by Kameron White, “Dorvan V” by Alina Pete, and “Welei (I Am Fine)” by Bianca "binkz17" Martin and Rhael McGregor. But even the stories that I didn’t connect with as strongly, I appreciated the artistry that went into making them and the variety they added to the anthology as a whole. I was especially happy to see the diversity in how people were depicted across the board (e.g., cultures, body type, skin color, hair texture/style, clothing, etc.). Overall, anthology did a wonderful job of showcasing Indigenous people engaging with pop culture and telling their own stories.
Recommendation: Get it soon if you’re looking to expand your graphic novel collection. This anthology features a variety of stories about Indigenous people engaging with modern pop culture and forging spaces for themselves. This would be a fun addition to any school or classroom library.
Indiginerds is a graphic novel anthology about modern and nerdy Indigenous life. This anthology was obviously curated with a great deal of thought and care, and I really appreciated the breadth of the stories told in these pages. There were some nerdy staples I expected, like D&D and Star Trek, but there were several areas that surprised me, like pirate radio stations and local music scenes, neither of which I have engaged with much if at all. It was fun to see glimpses of these other pop culture communities I know little about. The anthology featured a couple of autobiographical pieces, too, which were a delight to read.
Like any anthology, readers will find some stories that resonate with them more than others. I was particularly fond of “Missed Pow Wow Connection” by Kameron White, “Dorvan V” by Alina Pete, and “Welei (I Am Fine)” by Bianca "binkz17" Martin and Rhael McGregor. But even the stories that I didn’t connect with as strongly, I appreciated the artistry that went into making them and the variety they added to the anthology as a whole. I was especially happy to see the diversity in how people were depicted across the board (e.g., cultures, body type, skin color, hair texture/style, clothing, etc.). Overall, anthology did a wonderful job of showcasing Indigenous people engaging with pop culture and telling their own stories.
Recommendation: Get it soon if you’re looking to expand your graphic novel collection. This anthology features a variety of stories about Indigenous people engaging with modern pop culture and forging spaces for themselves. This would be a fun addition to any school or classroom library.
September 4, 2024
Read this in one beautiful sitting!! Easy 5 stars, LOVED this and how it showed todays nerdy world through the indigenous experience. Heartwarming, exciting to recognise nerdy things like twitch, WOW and D&D and BEAUTIFUL art work.
From the foreword:
“One time, at a pow wow on their home territory, my friend Raven was showing off their latest VR creation: a raven dance mask in the West Coast formline style, but rendered with virtual voxels in a mixed reality space. I lost my mind over this amazing blending of traditional art styles with cutting-edge technology. "More people need stories like this," I said. "More people need to know that we're not just stuck in the past." Another time, my sister and I were talking about the latest books we were reading, and we'd both had the same experience - having to "take breaks", sometimes for months, when a book about Indigenous people's trauma got too heavy to sit with.
We both wanted to support Indigenous stories, but the weight of hearing over and over again about our people's pain always got too intense for us to really enjoy the experience. "We're more than just our pain." I said. "People need to understand that we are silly and hilarious and tech-savvy and passionate!"”
From the foreword:
“One time, at a pow wow on their home territory, my friend Raven was showing off their latest VR creation: a raven dance mask in the West Coast formline style, but rendered with virtual voxels in a mixed reality space. I lost my mind over this amazing blending of traditional art styles with cutting-edge technology. "More people need stories like this," I said. "More people need to know that we're not just stuck in the past." Another time, my sister and I were talking about the latest books we were reading, and we'd both had the same experience - having to "take breaks", sometimes for months, when a book about Indigenous people's trauma got too heavy to sit with.
We both wanted to support Indigenous stories, but the weight of hearing over and over again about our people's pain always got too intense for us to really enjoy the experience. "We're more than just our pain." I said. "People need to understand that we are silly and hilarious and tech-savvy and passionate!"”
October 21, 2024
4.75
Okay, first of all, I want to thank Iron Circus Comics for allowing me to read this book as an e-arc.
When I requested this book, I thought, "I don't know, this sounds fun." Then, when I read it, I thought, "Oh wow, this is great!"
I live in France, so even if I know some things, I don't know a lot about Indigenous people's lives. So I learned a lot. I liked all the stories, but obviously, I have my favorites: the horror one (I'm a big horror movie fan), and the one about the streamer who teaches language while playing Stardew Valley (it made me tear up a little bit).
I also really liked the different art styles and voices in the book.
So yes, interesting stories, queer stories, good characters, and good art styles.
Definitely a must-read!
Okay, first of all, I want to thank Iron Circus Comics for allowing me to read this book as an e-arc.
When I requested this book, I thought, "I don't know, this sounds fun." Then, when I read it, I thought, "Oh wow, this is great!"
I live in France, so even if I know some things, I don't know a lot about Indigenous people's lives. So I learned a lot. I liked all the stories, but obviously, I have my favorites: the horror one (I'm a big horror movie fan), and the one about the streamer who teaches language while playing Stardew Valley (it made me tear up a little bit).
I also really liked the different art styles and voices in the book.
So yes, interesting stories, queer stories, good characters, and good art styles.
Definitely a must-read!
November 11, 2024
I enjoyed this compilation of short narratives in comic format produced by Indigenous writers and artists. As with almost any collection, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but I appreciated the diversity of viewpoints, stories, and art styles. Some stories were heartwarming, some were angry, many reflected different uses of media and technology to support and spread indigenous cultures.
While it seems to be intended for young adults, this book should be both informative and enjoyable for a wide audience. Representation matters, and I’m happy to witness more Indigenous voices, as well as LGBTQ representation.
Thank you to Iron Circus Comics for providing me with an electronic ARC through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
While it seems to be intended for young adults, this book should be both informative and enjoyable for a wide audience. Representation matters, and I’m happy to witness more Indigenous voices, as well as LGBTQ representation.
Thank you to Iron Circus Comics for providing me with an electronic ARC through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.
November 18, 2024
CW: racism, colonialism, mental illness, addiction, fire (mentioned, off-page), bullying (mentioned)
I've been waiting to read this book for awhile and it was absolutely worth the wait!
Comprised of 11 stories from various Indigenous authors, Indiginerds follows Indigenous teens and how they connect their heritage to modern pop culture. From conversations about representation in media to sharing stories of Indigenous teens following their passions and hobbies, this book provides authentic storytelling of Indigenous lives with compelling artwork to help these stories come to life. A must-read for anyone interested in reading Indigenous voices for a YA audience and you happen to like graphic novels.
I've been waiting to read this book for awhile and it was absolutely worth the wait!
Comprised of 11 stories from various Indigenous authors, Indiginerds follows Indigenous teens and how they connect their heritage to modern pop culture. From conversations about representation in media to sharing stories of Indigenous teens following their passions and hobbies, this book provides authentic storytelling of Indigenous lives with compelling artwork to help these stories come to life. A must-read for anyone interested in reading Indigenous voices for a YA audience and you happen to like graphic novels.
Read
July 11, 2025These eleven memoiristic stories by different artists and writers offers another in the growing list of correctives to a, let's face it, still-colonialist culture that wants natives to stay firmly in the past, represented, as editor Alina Pete writes in their introduction, by "that damned painting of the sad Native dude on a sad horse." Their stated purpose in showcasing these talented artists and writers is to show how involved in TTRPG (shout out to D&D, featured in two of the stories!), VR, MMORPG, and other products of glorious nerd culture indigenous people are, how "silly and hilarious and tech-savvy and passionate" they are. Mission accomplished!
July 25, 2025
I feel guilty as a white person rating a celebration of Indigenous joy and power so low but...this just wasn't very good based on how I evaluate and rate things. This is billed as "tales from modern Indigenous life" but it's more like nonfiction vignettes or speeches/lectures than tales. This isn't a short story collection. It reads more like brief bios or comments.
Is the content good? Yes. Did I learn something? Maybe. Do I REALLY wanna watch Synthesis as my new favourite Star Trek replacement? HECK YES. (sadly it seems to only have a pilot?? Tell me if there's good Indigenous sci Fi out there pleeeease).
Is the content good? Yes. Did I learn something? Maybe. Do I REALLY wanna watch Synthesis as my new favourite Star Trek replacement? HECK YES. (sadly it seems to only have a pilot?? Tell me if there's good Indigenous sci Fi out there pleeeease).
July 28, 2025
Great anthology of short stories (approx 3-4 pages each). I actually loved the length of each one. I feel like sometimes if the graphic stories are more of a novella length then I end up feeling like something missing. These seemed intentionally short and direct with their themes, which I enjoyed. In my library, this is in the teen section so I think the length also works for this age group. I loved that they all had this theme of being “nerdy” and passionate about hobbies and/or activism. There were a couple where the artwork wasn’t to my liking but it was still pretty cool to see the different art styles.
November 13, 2025
What I loved about this book was its goal of dispelling indigenous stereotypes, showing 3-dimensional people who live, love, struggle like everyone else, but they do so through the unique lens of their culture and cultural trauma. There are cute stories, heartbreaking ones, but most of all, real ones. I loved learning more about indigenous culture while finding characters that my teens could also relate to on many levels. This is a book that needs to be widely read, both by teens who need this type of representation, but also by teens who could stand to get to know indigenous people as more than just what the history books say.
March 21, 2025
As a mixed native, these stories were very relatable and made me feel at home. Growing up I too was picked on, racist comments about which “Indian” I was, even got “Indian” burned because the kids claimed I wouldn’t be able to feel it because I was “Indian.”. I said all of that because these stories really do speak to me, talks about going to schools that’s not on rez, trying to find characters that you can relate to, finding friends who accept you for who you are. I absolutely loved each of these creators stories. I laughed, I felt sorrow, I felt seen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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