“We’ve all been living on broken ugly systems built on genocide and slavery. Strengthening and empowering others, in whatever capacity, also helps the self.” – Red Haircrow

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is this month. It is a holiday that celebrates and honors American Indians for their resistance and resilience in surviving genocide and oppression in the Americas. Although the ugly systems of the past still permeate our present, we find comfort and inspiration in the words of Red Haircrow, a Chiricahua Apache/ Cherokee and African American writer, filmmaker, and psychologist, as he signals how we can change the ways those systems may impact our future. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous people and will work to strengthen our collective resistance against oppression and social injustices in our current sociopolitical context. For this month?s newsletter, we selected two books that honor the culture, spirit, and humanity of American Indians. The themes in the books we highlighted this month reflect our commitment to community, compassion, peace, and dialogue.