Anti-Indigenous & Anti-Native* Racism Resources
There is a role for everyone in the fight to end racism.
The recent and ongoing discoveries of mass unmarked graves at former residential schools in Canada and the United States have heightened the conversations about the atrocities that Indigenous and Native peoples have experienced. But these findings are not exposing a distant past. Instead, they are highlighting one of the countless realities of discrimination and racism that Indigenous and Native peoples have endured and continue to battle with today.
The injustices that Indigenous and Native peoples experience permeate into all aspects of their lives — their homes, their healthcare, and even their workplaces. Corporations are not doing their part in the fight to end racism. They are guilty of performative measures and diversity washing to claim they are making an impact while they continue to uphold racist policies and practices that perpetuate discrimination.
To create actual and lasting change in the workplace and beyond, those of us who are non-Indigenous allies, leaders, and non-leaders must all take accountability for our actions. Each and every one of us has a role in addressing and contributing to the upheaval of systems and attitudes that continue to oppress Indigenous and Native peoples, as well as all people of colour. While this is a massive undertaking, we need to embark on this journey and take the first step through educating ourselves. This education is the foundation we all need to dismantle our existing beliefs and establish a mindset that will contribute to lasting, positive change.
Notes:
* The terms “Indigenous” and “Native” have been included in this resource page to be respectful and inclusive of the preferred terminology of individual people in both Canada and the United States. For more information, check out “How to Talk to Native Nations: A Guide” or reach out to us directly.
** This resource page includes both American and Canadian content.
*** Resources included in this page were compiled in 2023. If you are unable to access a resource using the link or platform provided, please reach out to us directly and we would be happy to help.
“8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada” | Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (December 5, 2022)
Anti-Indigenous Racism in Canada | National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
“Canada’s history with Indigenous people is cruel and unfair, but we need to own up to it” by Kerry Benjoe |CBC News (July 1, 2020)
“How Thousands of Indigenous Children Vanished in Canada” by Ian Austen | The New York Times (June 7, 2021)
“Indigenous Healthcare in Canada” by Katalina Toth | Harvard International Review (March 4, 2022)
“In the fight for racial justice, Native stories should not be ignored” by Ivan Natividad | UC Berkeley (September 25, 2020)
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women | Native Women’s Wilderness
Articles to Read:
“More than half the children in care are Indigenous, census data suggests” by Brittany Hobson | CBC (September 21, 2022)
“Native Americans and the racial reckoning” by Susan Smith Richardson | The Center for Public Integrity (October 21, 2020)
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada | Government of Canada (September 29, 2022)
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (December 2015)
United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples | The United Nations (September 2007)
For ideas on further research, explore issues surrounding Indigenous and Native peoples including, but not limited to: child separation and foster care, forced relocation, healthcare and health disparities, life on reservations, missing and murdered indigenous women, residential schools, and police brutality and incarceration.
A Conversation with Native Americans on Race by Michele Stephenson and Brian Young | The New York Times (6:23)
“Indigenous in Plain Sight” | Gregg Deal at TEDxBoulder (13:22)
The Unforgotten by The Canadian Medical Association (35:45)
“What you can do about your country’s ugly history” | Nikki Sanchez at TEDxSFU (13:19)
Willie Ermine: An Indigenous Perspective on Reconciliation | Indigenous Education (5:06)
Videos to Watch:
News to Tune into:
The news programming above provides a limited sample of the Indigenous and Native news sources that exist; for a comprehensive list of what is available, please reach out to us directly.
Our Story: Aboriginal Voices on Canada’s Past by various Indigenous authors
The Removed: A Novel by Brandon Hobson
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
The Tao of Raven: An Alaska Native Memoir by Ernestine Hayes
There There by Tommy Orange
They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars
Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-Up Call by Arthur Manuel & Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
As Long as Grass Grows by Dina Gilio-Witaker
The Break by Katherena Vermette
Crazy Brave: A Memoir by Joy Harjo
Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask by Anton Treuer
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer
Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King
An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel
Books to Read:
For additional reading, check out “Resources for Combatting Anti-Native and Indigenous Racism” for American content and “35 books to read for National Indigenous History Month” for Canadian content.
American Experience: We Shall Remain – Available to rent*
Angry Inuk (Alethea Arnaquq-Baril) – Available to buy from the National Film Board
Broken Promises: The High Arctic Relocation (Patricia Tassinari) – National Film Board
Club Native (Tracey Deer) – National Film Board
Finding Dawn (Christine Welsh) – National Film Board
First Stories: Two Spirited (Sharon A. Desjarlais) – National Film Board
Indigenous Cinema Educational Playlist – National Film Board
Indian Horse (Stephen Campanelli) – Netflix
Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (Alanis Obomsawin) – National Film Board
Mankiller (Valerie Red-Horse) – Available to rent or buy from Valhalla Entertainment
Films and TV Series to Watch:
Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar (Tanya Talaga) – CBC Gem
Native Americans Content – PBS
Native America Series – PBS
Real Injun (Neil Diamond) – CBC Gem
Smoke Signals (Chris Eyre) – Available to rent
Warrior Women (Christina King & Elizabeth Castle) – Available to rent or buy from Vimeo
We Were Children (Tim Wolochatiuk) – Available to rent or buy from the National Film Board
Wind River (Taylor Sheridan) – Available to rent
*For titles that are available to rent, check out if they are available on your preferred streaming service (e.g., Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, Youtube, etc.
For more viewing content, check out the “Indigenous-Made Films Catalogue”.
Association on American Indian Affairs: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Indigenous Innovation Initiative: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
International Indigenous Youth Council: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health: Twitter | Facebook
Organizations to Support and Follow on Social Media:
BOOKS:
“8 Books to Help Children Explore Indigenous Culture” by Steacy Pinney
American Indians / Indigenous Peoples / Native Nations recommended book list for children and youth of different ages | Social Justice Books
PODCASTS: (3)
Molly of Denali – Also includes other interactive content for children
Resources for White Parents to Raise Anti-Racist Children:
ARTICLES:
“12 Things For Your Kids to Watch, Read or Listen To This Indigenous History Month” by Stefani Walsh | CBC Kids (June 9, 2021)
“How to Honor Indigenous Peoples with Your Kids, Today and Every Day” by April Brown | PBS (October 8, 2020)
Indigenous Ally Toolkit | The Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network
“Teaching Young Children About Native Americans” by Jean Mendoza | Illinois Early Learning Project (2021)
Spaces for Mental and Physical Health (please read all event details carefully):
Saa’ust Centre – Support for families and survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
The spaces provided above are a limited example of what exists. If you need help finding any specific resources for mental and physical health, please contact us directly and we would be happy to provide assistance.