9 - Donate books by Indigenous authors to school libraries
This series of blog posts is inspired by the list 21 Things You Can Do to Change the World created by Bob Joseph in his book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. Focusing on actionable steps, these blog posts will take each step and provide links, contacts, and suggestion lists.
View all of our 21 Things posts here.
The next action we are highlighting is Donate books by Indigenous authors to school libraries.
When it comes to ensuring the equality of Indigenous children, school libraries play a crucial role. Studies conducted on the impact of school libraries determined that they are integral to the success of a child’s education. Learn more about the results of one such study here.
Through diverse reading materials students can enrich their understanding around the impacts of colonialism. You can find lists of recommended books for donating in our previous blog post here.
While there is not one way to donate books to a local school library, it is recommended that you contact your neighbourhood school if you would like to donate Indigenous books.
When approaching a school you would like to donate to, you can contact the principal, teacher-librarian or the Parent Advisory Council. Most schools have websites that list the contact information for staff and you can phone to ask about book donations, to arrange drop-off, or perhaps the school would prefer a donation with a stipulation that the funds be used to purchase books by Indigenous authors.
Ensuring that all children who attend public school have access to literature that represents the complex and varied experiences of First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples is one step towards a more empathetic and enriched culture for all of us.
These blog posts are designed to be a starting point to help people toward the path of reconciliation and allyship. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and research. Want to learn more? Check out the Indigenous Relations Academy, which has books, training, and resources. You can also purchase 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act here.