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Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices
A powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today. Truly universal in its themes, Dreaming In Indian will shatter commonly held stereotypes and challenge readers to rethink their own place in the world. Divided into four sections, ‘Roots,’ ‘Battles,’ ‘Medicines,’ and ‘Dreamcatchers,’ this book offers readers a unique insight into a community often misunderstood and misrepresented by the mainstream media.
Additional authors: Julia Shaw, Raquel Simard, Alida Kinnie Starr, Arigon Starr, Kris Statnyk, Patty Stein, Aja Sy, Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Adriane Tailfeathers, Kit Thomas, Michelle Thrush, Faith Turner, Jeffrey Veregge, Tonya-Leah Watts, Shannon Webb-Campbell, Abigail Whiteye, Jade Willoughby and Darrel Yazzie Jr.
Additional authors: Julia Shaw, Raquel Simard, Alida Kinnie Starr, Arigon Starr, Kris Statnyk, Patty Stein, Aja Sy, Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Adriane Tailfeathers, Kit Thomas, Michelle Thrush, Faith Turner, Jeffrey Veregge, Tonya-Leah Watts, Shannon Webb-Campbell, Abigail Whiteye, Jade Willoughby and Darrel Yazzie Jr.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published July 24, 2014
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September 2, 2014
This is a book that is both easy and difficult to review; easy because it is simply excellent, difficult because it is so many things in one wonderful source. While it is intended for both Native and non-Native youth of high school age as a way of both becoming more aware of the truths of Indigenous ways of life of the past and present, the participants are both older and younger than that age group. It is also a book that I would recommend to adult readers who want a more realistic view of Indian life than that which is usually provided in the various media.
Using memoir, poetry, fiction, various forms of artistic expression, fashion, hip hop lyrics, and many other forms, Dreaming in Indian provides a portrait of the people of today as well as some from earlier days who were forcibly removed from their families and tribes.
There is traditional; there is modern. A touch of tradition:
And finally, I had one more question: "Mom, why do
we greet the dawn?"
She said, "We greet the dawn because we are the people
of the dawn. We are the first ones to see the white light
coming to announce the sunrise, and when the sun comes up,
it gives us light and we are able to see where we are
going and we are able to work, and the sun gives us warmth
and the Elders feel better and are able to move around.
There is magic everywhere," she added, "like when the sun
and moon are in the sky at the same time, on the full moon,
it's magic."
(My Mother's Teachings, Isabelle Knockwood. p 17)
From that same article, In 1867, the British North America Act stated Canada's goal "Our country's goal is to destroy the tribal society and to assimilate Indians into the white dominant society as quickly as it is convenient." (p 17) The United States pursued similar goals. The US ended their program in the 1950s and 1960s, Canada later.
And now for the modern:
Q & A with Arigon Starr
.....
What inspired you to create a Native American superhero?
Thinking about me and my sister as kids looking for
something to read that had Native people in it. Anywhere.
Even as a sidekick. I hope my work inspires other kids
to write their stories, too. (p 31)
So much here. I have only scratched the surface. I very strongly recommend this book to young adults, their parents and other interested adults.
An ecopy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Using memoir, poetry, fiction, various forms of artistic expression, fashion, hip hop lyrics, and many other forms, Dreaming in Indian provides a portrait of the people of today as well as some from earlier days who were forcibly removed from their families and tribes.
There is traditional; there is modern. A touch of tradition:
And finally, I had one more question: "Mom, why do
we greet the dawn?"
She said, "We greet the dawn because we are the people
of the dawn. We are the first ones to see the white light
coming to announce the sunrise, and when the sun comes up,
it gives us light and we are able to see where we are
going and we are able to work, and the sun gives us warmth
and the Elders feel better and are able to move around.
There is magic everywhere," she added, "like when the sun
and moon are in the sky at the same time, on the full moon,
it's magic."
(My Mother's Teachings, Isabelle Knockwood. p 17)
From that same article, In 1867, the British North America Act stated Canada's goal "Our country's goal is to destroy the tribal society and to assimilate Indians into the white dominant society as quickly as it is convenient." (p 17) The United States pursued similar goals. The US ended their program in the 1950s and 1960s, Canada later.
And now for the modern:
Q & A with Arigon Starr
.....
What inspired you to create a Native American superhero?
Thinking about me and my sister as kids looking for
something to read that had Native people in it. Anywhere.
Even as a sidekick. I hope my work inspires other kids
to write their stories, too. (p 31)
So much here. I have only scratched the surface. I very strongly recommend this book to young adults, their parents and other interested adults.
An ecopy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 8, 2014
First thought on looking through this: WOW. I highly recommend it. You could spend hours just looking at the art and photography, and then a few more hours thinking about it, what it means..
A longer review is at my site:
http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
It is the epitome of "what is possible" from creative minds.
A longer review is at my site:
http://americanindiansinchildrenslite...
It is the epitome of "what is possible" from creative minds.
June 25, 2017
از تصویرگری های قوی و زیبا آمریکایی های بومی تشکیل شده. در این شماره بیشتر به عموم بومیان آمریکا کانادا می پردازه. از چهار بخش Roots, Battles, Medicines, and Dreamcatchers تشکیل شده. راجع به رقص های مختلف بومیان هم اطلاعات جالبی در اختیارتون قرار میده. نثرش ساده س و سریع هم جلو میره.
May 17, 2023
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices [2014] - ★★★1/2
"This book stemmed from a desire to showcase the real life of indigenous people. Not the life portrayed in mainstream media and certainly not the life of native people as it is seen through the lens of Hollywood [2014: 11], says the book introduction. This book is a compilation of poetry, lyrics, art and articles on a wide range of topics, including urban life, bullying, discrimination, stereotyping, poverty, drugs and the process of growing up, trying to demonstrate the issues that are of concern to the Native American population. There is much talent on display here, and, more importantly, the voice is genuine and comes from indigenous people themselves, who are a very diverse group of people with a variety of life experiences and living in different environments, from quiet small villages of Canada to hectic city centres of the US. The contributions come from lawyers, singers, poets, dancers, chefs and students, who all value their culture and find strength in their shared heritage. While some contributions are heart-breaking, others are inspirational.
"This book stemmed from a desire to showcase the real life of indigenous people. Not the life portrayed in mainstream media and certainly not the life of native people as it is seen through the lens of Hollywood [2014: 11], says the book introduction. This book is a compilation of poetry, lyrics, art and articles on a wide range of topics, including urban life, bullying, discrimination, stereotyping, poverty, drugs and the process of growing up, trying to demonstrate the issues that are of concern to the Native American population. There is much talent on display here, and, more importantly, the voice is genuine and comes from indigenous people themselves, who are a very diverse group of people with a variety of life experiences and living in different environments, from quiet small villages of Canada to hectic city centres of the US. The contributions come from lawyers, singers, poets, dancers, chefs and students, who all value their culture and find strength in their shared heritage. While some contributions are heart-breaking, others are inspirational.
October 25, 2014
Filled with stunningly beautiful illustrations and powerful prose from Native American artists and writers, this volume dispels many stereotypes about Native cultures. Although most of the entries are from Canadian Natives, there are some from the United States, including Washington. Divided into four sections (Roots, Battles, Medicines, and Dreamcatchers), there isn't a weak contribution among the pieces that have been included here. There are photos about leaving home, an interview with a graphic artist, commentary on what gives someone strength, and celebration of various dance forms, including jingle dancing and traditional hoop dancing. Many of the entries challenge assumptions many of us may have about Native American culture, and taken together, they raise consciousness and heighten awareness about the joys and pains of growing up Native. I was thrilled to receive this book and ponder its writings and artistic elements.
March 6, 2021
This book was amazing! Such an eye opener for me. I thought only the Americans treated the Native Americans, or Aboriginal People badly. I had no idea this also occurred in Canada, and is still happening today. I was particularly struck by the honesty in this book. Many people told about their struggles in life growing up very openly, and that is a very difficult thing to do. It was heartwarming to read about many young people's success in their careers, which include everything under the sun - from writing, cooking, visual arts, poetry, photography, etc. Also, they mostly all are able to keep their culture alive, and that is incredible after all that they have endured over generations. What a great collection of art, information, and biographies! This book was recommended by my professor, and I found it in my public library. This book would be a great inspiration for middle school students to use to learn about contemporary Native American or Aboriginal People.
June 15, 2018
We are adopting this title for reading and consideration and connecting in Room 407 with our English 11 students this year. We've already begun pairing contributions within the book to web resources featuring the poets, artists, and writers found within the anthology.
March 3, 2015
Dreaming in Indian is a unique anthology of work by young Native Americans from Canada and the United States intended to "give people a fresh perspective on what it means to be Native in North America." Native youths were invited to submit their work for a chance to tell the world their stories their way. The results, the editors write, was a brilliant collection of artwork in various media by some incredibly talented people.
The job of putting this book together must have been daunting, given the high quality works of art that are included in Dreaming in Indian. But what does all this tell us about being a young Native American? What does it tell us about how Native youth go forward in the world, while maintaining their connection to their past? Or how do Native youth deal with things like stereotyping, bullying, and issues of self-esteem? The answers to these questions and more can be found throughout the book.
Dreaming in Indian is divided into four sections. In the first section, Roots, ideas about connectedness to the past are addressed, beginning with two poems by Nicola Campbell in which she recalls memories of her grandmother and her aunt. Others explore ideas about what home means to them, about confronting bullies and even living in residential schools, all creatively done using different media - poetry, photographs, collage.
Battles, the next section, looks at racism and stereotyping, as well as sexual abuse, poverty, gender identity, and addiction among Native youth. Poetry, prose, even comic book art and stand up comedy are used for addressing these gritty, hardcore issues. I was particularly taken with Reappropriation by Ashley Callingbull and Anthony "Thosh" Collins in which they reclaim the fashion of wearing "Native" and return it to its true cultural nature, using artifacts that were handed down to Ashley by her ancestors.
The third section, called Medicines, shows the different, productive ways Indigenous youth restore themselves not through addiction or medications, but by finding healing in music, art, sports, and traditions like dancing and hunting. Finding the strength to give up her addiction and find spirituality in the Sun Dance changed the life of Chayla Delorme Maracle. Louie Gong uses pop culture objects to express his mixed-race heritage, resulting in bold, colorful designs on things like sneakers, shoes, even phone cases.
Lastly, in Dreamcatcher, we see the many different ways Native youth are turning their dreams into reality. Artists, educators, activists, even an Indigenous chef are opening the future up for Native youth so that their dreams can come true.
Writing a review of Dreaming in Indian is difficult because there are so many diverse aspects to the book and descriptions pale in comparison to what you will find throughout. The editors said what they received was mind blowing, and indeed it is, in the best possible way. And thankfully, Annick Press had the good sense to publish the book using high quality, high density photographs giving it a wonderful vibrancy.
In a world that is finally recognizing that We Need Diverse Books, Dreaming in Indian one of the most welcomed additions. There are so few good nonfiction books about Native Indians, and especially Native youth, that this is a breath of fresh air, not only because it fills that gap but because the incredibly talented Indigenous youth who contributed to the book show us what amazing talent there is out there that is so often overlooked or ignored.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an E-ARC from NetGalley and then I went out and bought my own personal copy (it is that good)
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
The job of putting this book together must have been daunting, given the high quality works of art that are included in Dreaming in Indian. But what does all this tell us about being a young Native American? What does it tell us about how Native youth go forward in the world, while maintaining their connection to their past? Or how do Native youth deal with things like stereotyping, bullying, and issues of self-esteem? The answers to these questions and more can be found throughout the book.
Dreaming in Indian is divided into four sections. In the first section, Roots, ideas about connectedness to the past are addressed, beginning with two poems by Nicola Campbell in which she recalls memories of her grandmother and her aunt. Others explore ideas about what home means to them, about confronting bullies and even living in residential schools, all creatively done using different media - poetry, photographs, collage.
Battles, the next section, looks at racism and stereotyping, as well as sexual abuse, poverty, gender identity, and addiction among Native youth. Poetry, prose, even comic book art and stand up comedy are used for addressing these gritty, hardcore issues. I was particularly taken with Reappropriation by Ashley Callingbull and Anthony "Thosh" Collins in which they reclaim the fashion of wearing "Native" and return it to its true cultural nature, using artifacts that were handed down to Ashley by her ancestors.
The third section, called Medicines, shows the different, productive ways Indigenous youth restore themselves not through addiction or medications, but by finding healing in music, art, sports, and traditions like dancing and hunting. Finding the strength to give up her addiction and find spirituality in the Sun Dance changed the life of Chayla Delorme Maracle. Louie Gong uses pop culture objects to express his mixed-race heritage, resulting in bold, colorful designs on things like sneakers, shoes, even phone cases.
Lastly, in Dreamcatcher, we see the many different ways Native youth are turning their dreams into reality. Artists, educators, activists, even an Indigenous chef are opening the future up for Native youth so that their dreams can come true.
Writing a review of Dreaming in Indian is difficult because there are so many diverse aspects to the book and descriptions pale in comparison to what you will find throughout. The editors said what they received was mind blowing, and indeed it is, in the best possible way. And thankfully, Annick Press had the good sense to publish the book using high quality, high density photographs giving it a wonderful vibrancy.
In a world that is finally recognizing that We Need Diverse Books, Dreaming in Indian one of the most welcomed additions. There are so few good nonfiction books about Native Indians, and especially Native youth, that this is a breath of fresh air, not only because it fills that gap but because the incredibly talented Indigenous youth who contributed to the book show us what amazing talent there is out there that is so often overlooked or ignored.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an E-ARC from NetGalley and then I went out and bought my own personal copy (it is that good)
This review was originally posted on Randomly Reading
Read
November 2, 2025A great collection of art and photographs and poetry and interviews and other writings by many contributors. Reading it is like visiting a showcase or an exhibition without leaving home
November 6, 2017
Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale edited Urban Tribes and #NotYourPrincess, and I have been rather enamored of both. Now I have gone back to the first book the pair did together, and finally read Dreaming in Indian. Not only did it meet my high expectations, it surpassed them.
Every essay, poem, photograph, art piece was all beautiful in its own way. There was an incredibly wide array of voices represented here that it was hard to resist its charms. I recognised names from Urban Tribes and #NotYourPrincess, and I recognised names from other sources. Lee Maracle provides a stunning foreword. Isabelle Knockwood has an incredible essay, which was fantastic to read after reading of her experiences in Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools. Even seeing Tanya Tagaq's name had me thrilled, as I am such a fan of her music, and her words on bullies really spoke to me. I was also thrilled to see the Edd sisters again after first being exposed to their art in #NotYourPrincess. As a comics fan, it was great to see names like Arigon Starr and Jeffrey Veregge make appearances. There were many more unfamiliar names, and they all had something to say that was worth saying.
I absolutely would recommend this, along with Urban Tribes and #NotYourPrincess. It's so vital to read about these experiences that are so underrepresented in mainstream media. I hope the editors put out another book together.
Every essay, poem, photograph, art piece was all beautiful in its own way. There was an incredibly wide array of voices represented here that it was hard to resist its charms. I recognised names from Urban Tribes and #NotYourPrincess, and I recognised names from other sources. Lee Maracle provides a stunning foreword. Isabelle Knockwood has an incredible essay, which was fantastic to read after reading of her experiences in Righting Canada's Wrongs: Residential Schools. Even seeing Tanya Tagaq's name had me thrilled, as I am such a fan of her music, and her words on bullies really spoke to me. I was also thrilled to see the Edd sisters again after first being exposed to their art in #NotYourPrincess. As a comics fan, it was great to see names like Arigon Starr and Jeffrey Veregge make appearances. There were many more unfamiliar names, and they all had something to say that was worth saying.
I absolutely would recommend this, along with Urban Tribes and #NotYourPrincess. It's so vital to read about these experiences that are so underrepresented in mainstream media. I hope the editors put out another book together.
May 27, 2023
3.5/5
I recently finally checked out the third of the three local library systems I have convenient access to, and this is the second one of the hodgepodge that I snatched from the shelves that I'm glad to finally get to. It was a surprise seeing the 'YA' attached to it, as neither the title nor the description readily lends itself to the smaller range of demographic and subject matter that such an indexing tends to imply. It does, however, line up with the contents, which tended to emphasize the values of settler state capitalism in the form of high school proms and entrepreneurship rather than indigenous sovereignty or cultural heritage more than I was expecting (and hoping). The large, almost coffee table nature of the edition's format also made for an unorthodox reading experience, which contributed to the after feeling of having been sold something that wasn't nearly as intense or thought provoking as had been initially promised. Still, there continues to really not be much offered in the way of credible indigenous material when it comes to younger audiences, and the fact that the book wasn't really intended for me doesn't lessen the value it has for those of its intended audience. As such, if this gets a younger reader involved in the topic of indigenous communities in the 21st century sooner rather than later, more power to them.
What do you say to the children who live in a country that survives on eating them alive? There are different flavors of argument, truth, ignorance, and the only determination I've made in three decades on this misbegotten continent is to hightail it whenever media shows a state settler violating rights "for the common good", walk on by whenever something shiny shiny and utterly disconnected from its community tries to sell itself to the highest bidder, and otherwise listen to those of the Mean Spirit, the Almanac of the Dead, the Indian Horse. In line with that, I watched a documentary on Netflix called Gather that both gave me hope and set my standards for what I would like to see from Native American youth, especially in the form of a high school scientist concerned with proving that the buffalo raised by her people were pound for pound both healthier for humans and sustainable in inherited ecosystems. I also acquiesce to the fact that that is a tall order for the typical teenager, much less ones disproportionately impacted by cultural annihilation and centuries of theft/kidnapping/rape, and that it is understandable for a collection such as this to draw from narratives that focus more on assimilation than revolution. Still, it would've done me more good for me to read this when I was younger, when I was coming more from the mainstream end of the continuum than the radicalized. I would have an easier time sympathizing, rather than wonder what submissions were filtered out for the sake of slotting in yet another person who lights up in blue on Wikipedia and, these days, is known more for the controversy of their claims than the integrity of their personhood.
The fact that my county library system has a couple of copies of this work gives me hope. However, 2023 being what it is, I think that indigenous youth could afford to have an anthology of their own that fought back a tad more against the kind of preconceptions that are likely to stem from their most widespread pop culture representation coming from the likes of Meyer's Twilight. Such a wish isn't going to prevent the tech bros from popping up and defending to the death their poor widdle algorithm capitalism, but the fact of the matter is, indigenous youth have the right to exist, and nothing that lines up with the genocidal settler state is going to guarantee anything in the way of their equitable autonomy. As such, everyone deserves to pursue their passions, whether in education or fashion or athletics or music, but to single certain ones out because of how well they've adapted to the self-serving myopia of Euro colonizers and whitewash the process over with kowtowing terms such as "entrepreneurship" or grotesque simplifications such as "strive for success in a tough industry". Hand that to a kid with a smattering of "diversity" on a silver platter, and they'll be that much more eager to save white capitalism the bother and cut themselves away from their roots and disown their communal values on their own initiative. All in all, representation? Sure. Buying into the myth that solo path of education/tech/networking is what will truly save you and your people? Come on.
I recently finally checked out the third of the three local library systems I have convenient access to, and this is the second one of the hodgepodge that I snatched from the shelves that I'm glad to finally get to. It was a surprise seeing the 'YA' attached to it, as neither the title nor the description readily lends itself to the smaller range of demographic and subject matter that such an indexing tends to imply. It does, however, line up with the contents, which tended to emphasize the values of settler state capitalism in the form of high school proms and entrepreneurship rather than indigenous sovereignty or cultural heritage more than I was expecting (and hoping). The large, almost coffee table nature of the edition's format also made for an unorthodox reading experience, which contributed to the after feeling of having been sold something that wasn't nearly as intense or thought provoking as had been initially promised. Still, there continues to really not be much offered in the way of credible indigenous material when it comes to younger audiences, and the fact that the book wasn't really intended for me doesn't lessen the value it has for those of its intended audience. As such, if this gets a younger reader involved in the topic of indigenous communities in the 21st century sooner rather than later, more power to them.
What do you say to the children who live in a country that survives on eating them alive? There are different flavors of argument, truth, ignorance, and the only determination I've made in three decades on this misbegotten continent is to hightail it whenever media shows a state settler violating rights "for the common good", walk on by whenever something shiny shiny and utterly disconnected from its community tries to sell itself to the highest bidder, and otherwise listen to those of the Mean Spirit, the Almanac of the Dead, the Indian Horse. In line with that, I watched a documentary on Netflix called Gather that both gave me hope and set my standards for what I would like to see from Native American youth, especially in the form of a high school scientist concerned with proving that the buffalo raised by her people were pound for pound both healthier for humans and sustainable in inherited ecosystems. I also acquiesce to the fact that that is a tall order for the typical teenager, much less ones disproportionately impacted by cultural annihilation and centuries of theft/kidnapping/rape, and that it is understandable for a collection such as this to draw from narratives that focus more on assimilation than revolution. Still, it would've done me more good for me to read this when I was younger, when I was coming more from the mainstream end of the continuum than the radicalized. I would have an easier time sympathizing, rather than wonder what submissions were filtered out for the sake of slotting in yet another person who lights up in blue on Wikipedia and, these days, is known more for the controversy of their claims than the integrity of their personhood.
The fact that my county library system has a couple of copies of this work gives me hope. However, 2023 being what it is, I think that indigenous youth could afford to have an anthology of their own that fought back a tad more against the kind of preconceptions that are likely to stem from their most widespread pop culture representation coming from the likes of Meyer's Twilight. Such a wish isn't going to prevent the tech bros from popping up and defending to the death their poor widdle algorithm capitalism, but the fact of the matter is, indigenous youth have the right to exist, and nothing that lines up with the genocidal settler state is going to guarantee anything in the way of their equitable autonomy. As such, everyone deserves to pursue their passions, whether in education or fashion or athletics or music, but to single certain ones out because of how well they've adapted to the self-serving myopia of Euro colonizers and whitewash the process over with kowtowing terms such as "entrepreneurship" or grotesque simplifications such as "strive for success in a tough industry". Hand that to a kid with a smattering of "diversity" on a silver platter, and they'll be that much more eager to save white capitalism the bother and cut themselves away from their roots and disown their communal values on their own initiative. All in all, representation? Sure. Buying into the myth that solo path of education/tech/networking is what will truly save you and your people? Come on.
April 11, 2021
I found this a little less engaging than, '#Notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women' by Lisa Charleyboy. Perhaps it was the abundance of adult female voices in the latter that really spoke to my interests at the time. I felt there was more information and, though hopeful, went to darker and very relatable issues. I really liked, Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices, obviously. I love how they put together such a meaningful and interesting series of images, stories, art, and poetry. It is so important to have something so digestible to visualize groups that need representation and to promote awareness of history, current events, and creators. I like that they used a range of ages and themes that all centered within the first nation experience and how they relate to modern life/struggles from fighting stereotypes to continued invasion of land and cultural appropriation. I hope more people pick up these books out of interest and ignorance and then continue that research, I certainly will as I am still so clueless about not just world history but Americas as well. I love how Charleyboy took grad photos, their hopes and dreams, children's writings of personal strengths and fears, then showcases some incredible stories of native people succeeding to encourage everyone to see not just a struggle but the amazing accomplishments and hope that should never be stamped out in any child or adult alike.
Hopefully that made some sense!
Hopefully that made some sense!
November 15, 2020
The best way that I can describe this is that it's a scrapbook about creative Native Americans. It features poetry, essays, letters, song lyrics, graphic novel/comic strips, collages, photographs, paintings, and articles by and about comedians, dancers, fashion designers, musicians, actors, Olympic athletes, and chefs - all of who come from tribes across North and Central America. It's a wonderful immersion into Native American culture, whether you have previous exposure or not. I was happy to recognize some people I follow on various social media platforms featured in this book, so that made reading it extra special for me.
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June 12, 2017Not sure how to rate what was (mostly) non fiction essays on the lives of Indigenous people in Canada. All the creators were from different tribes and such, which was nice to see the diversity. I have to think more about my rating. I do think it's a worthwhile read.
July 26, 2020
This was longer than I thought it would be. I couldn't find a publication date but post-2014 based on dates given in the book for people. I thought it was just poetry but it was full of short stories, poems, art, personal narratives, all kinds of things. Mostly Natives from Canada.
December 4, 2022
By turns hard, hopeful, sorrowful, resilient, brutal, honest. Ends on a joyful note. Our middle school students are not noticing this book on our nonfiction shelves and that’s a shame. I’m going to place it open to various pages on a table in our library as if it were a magazine to browse and see what happens.
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April 15, 2018
Fascinating! This was another random find at the library, and a truly great read. I loved the mixed media, and different art styles.
October 13, 2021
A beautiful and moving collection
October 23, 2014
DREAMING IN INDIAN: CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN VOICES edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale is an outstanding anthology sure to engage youth in discussions about 21st century Native American culture. The beautifully illustrated text includes the perspectives of over 50 contemporary artists. The predominately young adult authors challenge traditional stereotypes and encourage youth to think about what it means to be an Native American in today’s society.[return][return]The individual pieces featured in the collection address authentic issues facing Native American youth. While some works explore problems such as residential schools that are unique to Indian culture, others contain universal themes such as bullying that will resonate with all young adults. Many of the works focus on issues of acceptance, prejudice, self-esteem, and tolerance through everyday experiences like sports, dance, and fashion. [return][return]The stunning layout and visual display will immediately attract the attention of teen readers. Photographs, sketches, paintings, comics, and collage are just a few of the many types of illustrations that so effectively convey the artists thoughts and insights of the artists. These illustrations are expertly woven into the engaging poetry and prose. Readers will be fascinated by the cultural references from food and family to music and medicine.[return][return]Along with their names, the tribal affiliation of each artist is identified. This information is particularly useful for students who wish to learn more about individuals with particular tribal affiliations. The book is divided into four sections focusing on the themes of roots, battles, medicines, and dreamcatchers. These areas would provide a rich starting point for group discussions.[return][return]This original work is a valuable resource for any library seeking to expand its cultural collection. Although aimed at young adults, there are aspects of this book that would appeal to both younger and older audiences too.[return][return]For many teens, reading THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie is their only exposure to Native American culture. Through this book, young people may gain a better appreciation of the diversity of interests and experiences of indigenous youth.[return][return]ARC NetGalley Review
February 10, 2017
With a magazine format, this anthology includes interviews, articles, poetry, art, and photos of Native Americans and First Nations people. It brings to life the issues that native teens are facing and showcases the amazing work they are doing as artists, athletes, and activists. I learned about how the history of residential schools continues to affect this generation and how the "Idle No More" movement is taking on important issues. My favorite interviews included those with artist Jeffrey Veregge who finds the commonalities between native culture and pop culture superheroes, dancer James Jones, who blends hoop dancing with break dancing, and Olympian Waneek Horn-Miller who now works as a health and wellness advocate. I look forward to sharing this book with my students.
October 23, 2014
Dreaming in Indian is a fantastic collection of poetry, memoirs, interviews, art and photography. Through its visually stunning pages it showcases the wide range of contemporary Native experiences and blasts mainstream stereotypes. The anthology contains contributions from over 50 artists in North America (both established and emerging). Each piece is unique, showing that there is no one Native experience to life and that traditions and cultures within the Native community are also diverse. From residential boarding schools to stand up comedy, this book covers both difficult topics and light hearted ones in a powerful way. It shows that Native Americans are not the image that Hollywood and sports team mascots would have the world believe, but very much a part of the present as chefs, comedians, athletes, models, and much more.
This is an excellent and important book for Native and non-Native readers alike. Also highly recommended for educators and librarians who are looking for a book that showcases Natives outside of the past.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Publication Date: September 22, 2014.
February 2, 2015
I liked this a lot and I'd love to see this become a series. It reminds me of like Rookie Yearbook One... and both remind me of zines. I like the DIY feel of it, but also I kind of wish that this book didn't have Comic Sans in it?? Is that too snobby? Fine.
Font choices aside, this is a cool anthology representing all kinds of American Indian/First Nation voices. Like with any anthology, some of the pieces resonated more with me than others.
I think this is really by Native Americans and for Native Americans--there's not always a lot of effort to explain issues that the average young white reader might not be familiar with. Which on one hand, is fine--I think it's great that there's a book like this that I think will really resonate with young Native American readers. BUT I think a lot of other kids could get more out of this with a little more background information that they might not have gotten from school? IDK. BUT I still think a lot of teens would appreciate the stories/poems in here no matter what?
BUT ALSO I think the cover image and size don't give this book the best appeal... might need to be hand-sold. But it's a good one to have on your radar, if it's not already.
Font choices aside, this is a cool anthology representing all kinds of American Indian/First Nation voices. Like with any anthology, some of the pieces resonated more with me than others.
I think this is really by Native Americans and for Native Americans--there's not always a lot of effort to explain issues that the average young white reader might not be familiar with. Which on one hand, is fine--I think it's great that there's a book like this that I think will really resonate with young Native American readers. BUT I think a lot of other kids could get more out of this with a little more background information that they might not have gotten from school? IDK. BUT I still think a lot of teens would appreciate the stories/poems in here no matter what?
BUT ALSO I think the cover image and size don't give this book the best appeal... might need to be hand-sold. But it's a good one to have on your radar, if it's not already.
September 25, 2015
This is a beautiful mixed-media anthology of writing, art, and interviews by Native American people in Canada and the USA. Each voice is unique and powerful, and the presentation of each piece lovingly honors its vitality. I highly recommend this one.
July 9, 2025
Most contributions were excellent, but some stood out as vital. My Mother's Teachings by Isabelle Knockwood (Mi'kmaq) answers an unanalyzed question that people at the Mormon History Association's 2025 conference in Ogden, Utah had after an excellent presentation by PhD candidate Jack Evans about how the LDS church promoted its version of Indian boarding schools called the Lamanite Placement Program. The question discussed was, "was the program successful?" The meaning of "success" went completely unquestioned. Judging from the discussion, success seemed to hinge on whether or not the products of that program emerged from it "educated," a word that was also not troubled. The answer, of course, is that the program as a tactic of genocide in ending an entire people by disrupting its means of cultural reproduction (stealing its children and having them raised by White families, including the one in which my own mother grew up) was a success. It was a successful genocidal tactic because many of its products emerged either too scarred (sexually, mentally, spiritually, and physically) to replicated Indigenous lifeways or honestly thinking that settler ways were better than Indigenous ways. The goal was not to help Hopi and Dine parents educate their children in the ways of the Hopi and Dine. "Education" in terms of all child theft programs across Abya Yala was a veiled code that meant "eradication." In their sick White niceness, Mormons veiled that code more thickly than Canada. Canada was a bit more explicit, but the code was the same: "Our country's goal is to destroy the tribal society and assimilate Indians into the white dominant society as quickly as it is convenient." But was their attempt at genocide truly a success if, after only one generation, Indian Country is producing revolutionary authors, poets, and artists like the ones in this book? Indian Giving by David Grouix (Ojibwe): "Canada gave the Indians religion because it was cheaper than giving them an education. Canada gave the Indians reserves because it was cheaper than killing them. Canada gave the Indians pails because it was cheaper than giving them clean water. Canada treats the Indians inhumane because it believes Indians are not human." Replace "Canada" with the United States. Replace "Canada" with "the Mormons." Replace "Canada" with "the ex-Mormons like Brooke Lark who 'try on' pieces of different millenarian holy practices like Aya Waska without taking them seriously as if they were trying on dresses at Macy's." It is all the same project.
November 11, 2019
Given my interest in Indigenous related history and culture my curiosity was piqued when I learned that one of my Goodreads friends had just put this book on her list of those to read. I found Dreaming was readily available as a digital book through my local public library. So, I borrowed and read it immediately because I happened to be in between books.
Every anthology I have read has always been of mixed quality. Ie, some pieces good to great but others mediocre, if not worse. With Dreaming almost every one was quite good, if not excellent. I am not a big fan of poetry but those in this book were straightforward and, thus, readily readable for a poetry neophyte like me. The essays/memoirs were wide ranging in topics and interesting and informative to read.
On the one hand, its brevity and reliance on a lot of art and/or photos makes it a quick read. I was able to go through its 60 or so pages in less than 3 hours. On the other hand, some of the pieces are quite poignant and thought provoking. Ie, it is the kind of book one might want to go back and read again more slowly.
While the artwork was striking, oftentimes it was frustratingly partially covered over by the written text. There were occasions when I felt that the essays/memoirs were so brief that I was left wanting to read more of the writer’s thoughts or artistic pursuits. Thus, I found myself Googling some of them. If I read the book a second time, I would probably Google more of these creative and dynamic people.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read. Perhaps the artwork would be even more striking if seen in a book rather than in the digital format which I used.
Every anthology I have read has always been of mixed quality. Ie, some pieces good to great but others mediocre, if not worse. With Dreaming almost every one was quite good, if not excellent. I am not a big fan of poetry but those in this book were straightforward and, thus, readily readable for a poetry neophyte like me. The essays/memoirs were wide ranging in topics and interesting and informative to read.
On the one hand, its brevity and reliance on a lot of art and/or photos makes it a quick read. I was able to go through its 60 or so pages in less than 3 hours. On the other hand, some of the pieces are quite poignant and thought provoking. Ie, it is the kind of book one might want to go back and read again more slowly.
While the artwork was striking, oftentimes it was frustratingly partially covered over by the written text. There were occasions when I felt that the essays/memoirs were so brief that I was left wanting to read more of the writer’s thoughts or artistic pursuits. Thus, I found myself Googling some of them. If I read the book a second time, I would probably Google more of these creative and dynamic people.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read. Perhaps the artwork would be even more striking if seen in a book rather than in the digital format which I used.
April 11, 2019
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices is an anthology of art, essays, photographs, poetry, short stories, and songs and North American Indigenous culture. It was collected and edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Leatherdale. The theme of this anthology is to challenge and shatter readers of their preconceptions of the North American Indigenous Nation.
Divided into four sections: "Roots", "Battles", "Medicines", and "Dreamcatchers", this anthology collects many works from contributors, many young adults from first nations across Canada and the United States, portray their experiences in short works that range from flash fiction, essays, songs and poetry to paintings, cartoons and photo collages. These contributors are varied from poets, fashion models, chefs, scientists, Olympians, YouTube stars, graphic artists, activists, athletes, and many more. It also varied in subject from experiences from Residential Schools to more lighthearted subjects.
Like most anthologies, there are weaker contributions, and Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices is not an exception. However, they seem to be outliers and did not stop my enjoyment of this kaleidoscopic anthology.
All in all, Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices is a wonderful collection of art, essays, photographs, poetry, short stories, and songs, which showcases the plight of the modern North American Indigenous.
Divided into four sections: "Roots", "Battles", "Medicines", and "Dreamcatchers", this anthology collects many works from contributors, many young adults from first nations across Canada and the United States, portray their experiences in short works that range from flash fiction, essays, songs and poetry to paintings, cartoons and photo collages. These contributors are varied from poets, fashion models, chefs, scientists, Olympians, YouTube stars, graphic artists, activists, athletes, and many more. It also varied in subject from experiences from Residential Schools to more lighthearted subjects.
Like most anthologies, there are weaker contributions, and Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices is not an exception. However, they seem to be outliers and did not stop my enjoyment of this kaleidoscopic anthology.
All in all, Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices is a wonderful collection of art, essays, photographs, poetry, short stories, and songs, which showcases the plight of the modern North American Indigenous.
March 25, 2019
I chose this book to be my window into my own culture. I identify as a "white-passing" Native American who is extremely out of touch with his cultural background. I chose this book from the book club list with the hope of getting a glimpse into what a modern voice of the Native American population is. I wasn't disappointed.
Dreaming in Indian gives readers the glimpse I was hoping for with Native American poetry, art, and narratives. With each of these playing an equal role in the book's publishing, the reader gets a well-rounded representation of the Native American culture. I would assert that the downfall is that there is not much content as it relates to Native American history; however, the editors did provide background knowledge if it would change meaning our understanding of what a contributor wrote.
I would reserve this book for a high school setting. The non-traditional printing makes it difficult to read at times, and some of the content is too mature for middle school children. Depending on your audience, there may be opportunities for the teacher to copy and use only certain sections, but I think the book has a larger impact as a whole. The resource could then be appreciated in its entirety.
Dreaming in Indian gives readers the glimpse I was hoping for with Native American poetry, art, and narratives. With each of these playing an equal role in the book's publishing, the reader gets a well-rounded representation of the Native American culture. I would assert that the downfall is that there is not much content as it relates to Native American history; however, the editors did provide background knowledge if it would change meaning our understanding of what a contributor wrote.
I would reserve this book for a high school setting. The non-traditional printing makes it difficult to read at times, and some of the content is too mature for middle school children. Depending on your audience, there may be opportunities for the teacher to copy and use only certain sections, but I think the book has a larger impact as a whole. The resource could then be appreciated in its entirety.
December 2, 2020
This book is humming with creativity, young voices, and artistic energy. It is an anthology of poetry, visual arts, interviews and essays by (mostly) young Native Americans. Published in 2016 by Annick Press, it catalogues a diversity of native experiences both in the U.S. and Canada. This book is visually stimulating, with page after page filled with images and text. It has a collage-like feel, combining different styles of presentation. This book is a celebration of creative expression and the potential of young native people. Artists of all sorts are featured, from actors in Hollywood (Michelle Thrush) to political activists (Idle No More Movement). I loved that this book includes a photo spread dedicated to native high school grads and their dreams and plans. I also enjoyed some of the more personal essays that brought me into some of these young peoples' lives. This book showcases abundant talent and, I think, invites many sequels that might focus on the different arts and accomplishments, one category at a time.
February 8, 2023
To be honest, this collection wasn't all that. I feel like I would want a lot more out of this than what I got. I liked the unique style with the cool page designs, but I felt like it would have been better to get more insight into what I was looking at. When reading this, I had to keep flipping to the table of contents for information on what it was. It may have been more of a hinderance to me because I wasn't expecting the format of the pages, but even towards the end, I was still having some trouble. I also wish there was more information on each subject. Sometimes when describing a person's activity or job, it was only a paragraph of information. I feel like there could be a lot more context around what they are doing and who they are, especially in relation to their heritage since that is an important concept of the book.
Despite all my qualms, I appreciate what the author was trying to do and I do think that giving a spotlight to these voices is super important. I still plan on reading her other book #NotYourPrincess and I'm still really excited about it.
Despite all my qualms, I appreciate what the author was trying to do and I do think that giving a spotlight to these voices is super important. I still plan on reading her other book #NotYourPrincess and I'm still really excited about it.
February 27, 2023
I really wanted to like this book but it doesn't fit with what I was hoping for. I wanted to use this book as a diversity book discuss with our school. It's part of a grant and one of the 6 books we can use. It says there are short stories and poems in the book and artwork which yes I guess that's true but many of the topics were heavy topics to be discussing, prostitution, drug addiction, sexual abuse and told through the actual victims so the writing style isn't necessarily the best. I did like a few poems and the hunter story was nice but I'm not sure where I would lead the discussions. I know one of the goals of this book is to break stereotypes of Indians caused by movies like Pocahontas. It does do that and perhaps the book is relatable to teens in general especially if they are leaving in a poverty situation. Some stories had positive messages like the Native American that used his passion for cloths to start an online business. It just doesn't fit with what I was hoping for. I may use some of it.
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