Introduction

In November, the Sonoma County Library celebrates National Native American Heritage Month. This month is “a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.*” We join thousands of libraries, schools and local governments in paying tribute to the ancestry and traditions of Native Americans / Indigenous Peoples.

Events

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga with children's author Traci Sorell

Virtual Event
Wed. Nov. 9 @ 10:30am

Join Cherokee Nation citizen and award-winning children's author Traci Sorell as she shares her book "We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga".
Recommended for ages 4-8.

Register at: sonoma-library.org/TraciSorell

Inhabitants: Indigenous Perspectives on Restoring Our World

Documentary Film and Virtual Panel Discussion
Tue. Nov 15 @ 6:00 pm

"Inhabitants" follows five Native American communities as they restore their traditional land management practices in the face of a changing climate.

Register at: sonoma-library.org/inhabitants

In-Person Author Talk with SSU's Dr. James Mestaz

Rohnert Park-Cotati Library
Tue. Nov 8 @ 6:00pm

Dr. Jamez Mestaz discusses his first book "Strength from the Waters: A History of Indigenous Mobilization in Northwest Mexico" that examines the historic connection between humans and water through the lens of the Mayo people of Sinaloa, Mexico.

Register at: sonoma-library.org/JamesMestaz

Virtual Author Talk with Nicole Eustace

Wed. Dec 14 @ 9:00 am

Join the conversation with Pulitzer Prize winning historian Nicole Eustace as she discusses her 2022 award winning book "Covered With Night: A Story of Murder and Indigenous Justice in Early America."

Register at: sonoma-library.org/NicoleEustace

Books and More:**

We invite you to check out a wide variety of books written by, for, and about Native American and Indigenous people at your local library.

Thanks to our resource sharing agreement, your Sonoma County Library Card grants you access to both the Lake County Native American Collection and the Mendocino First American Collection. Click here to browse both collections.

Adults

Download these librarian curated PDFs for more great reads.
Indigenous Sonoma County - Adults PDF
Indigenous Voices - Adult Fiction PDF
Indigenous Voices - Adult Non-Fiction PDF

Teens

Download these librarian curated PDFs for more great reads.
Indigenous Voices - Teens PDF

Childrens

Download these librarian curated PDFs for more great reads.
Indigenous Voices - Children 0-8 PDF
Indigenous Voices - Children 8-12 PDF
Spanish Indigenous Voices - Children's Spanish PDF

Local Tribes

In celebrating National Native American Heritage Month, Sonoma County Library honors native and indigenous peoples past, present and future. We express our respect for local communities including the Miwok, Wappo, Wintun, Pomo, and Patwin; as well as indigenous people from across the world who now make Sonoma County their home. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from traditional forms of knowledge and share with one another.

In Partnership with Graton Rancheria!

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria has donated $3.5 million to the Sonoma County Public Library Foundation for the construction of a new library in Roseland, located in Southwest Santa Rosa.

We are so thankful to our community partner Graton Rancheria for this donation towards a permanent Roseland Library.

• Read the Press Release
• In the News: Press Democrat Article

For more information about the current sovereignty and revitalization efforts of local Native American groups, please see:

• Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians
• Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians
• Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
• Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of Stewarts Point Rancheria
• Koi Nation of Northern California
• Lytton Band of Pomo Indians
• Southern Patwin and Wappo tribes
• Redbud Resource Group
• California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
• Sonoma County Indian Health Project

Additional History:

The cultural revitalization and self-determination efforts of Native people are part of a robust history. Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker (Cattaraugus Seneca), an anthropologist and historian who founded the Society of American Indians in 1911 and the NCIA in 1944, was one of the first to propose a day be set aside for “First Americans.” Thanks in part to the additional efforts of Reverend Red Fox James (Blackfoot), who was also known as Red Fox Shiukusha, and those of Reverend Sherman Coolidge (Arapaho), New York selected the second Saturday in May, 1916, for “American Indian Day.” Several other states set aside various days for similar observances during the first half of the 20th Century. However, it wasn’t until 1976 that the U.S. Federal Government set aside a portion of the calendar to celebrate Native peoples. In 1998, Native American Day was enacted as a state holiday in California. President Joe Biden declared October 11, 2021, to be a federal holiday: Indigenous People’s Day.

* As described by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

** The books listed here may at times not refer to Indigenous Peoples or Native Americans in terminology that is considered culturally appropriate or sensitive. In searching the library catalogue you may find that outdated terminology and subject headings are used. For library resources, the Sonoma County Library follows the standard library practice of assigning Library of Congress Subject Headings. The Sonoma County Library updates and reviews Subject Headings on an ongiong basis to be more inclusive.