Powwow Summer - by Nahanni Shingoose (Paperback)

About the Book

A teen novel about a young woman's exploration of her Indigenous background and how it influences her identity and sense of self.

Book Synopsis

River is teased about her Indigenous heritage as a young girl, and she struggles with her identity. When she travels to spend the summer with her Indigenous father and grandmother, she finds out what it means to be an "urban Indian." On her family's nearby reserve, she learns about the lives of Indigenous people. River discovers a deep respect for and connection with the land and her cultural traditions. The highlight of her summer is attending the annual powwow with her new friends. After the powwow, River drinks too much and posts photos online that anger people, and she has her right to identify as an Indigenous person called into question.

Distributed in the U.S by Lerner Publishing Group.

Review Quotes

Powwow Summer is a thoughtful and relevant exploration of identity, complete with authentic cultural details and history.-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"

Shingoose works a great deal of indigenous culture into this novel, both recent and historic, both good and bad. Rated G, Good-- "Resource Links"

About the Author

NAHANNI SHINGOOSE is Saulteaux, originally from Roseau River First Nation, Manitoba. She is an elementary teacher and author of Indigenous content, including teacher resources, picture books, graphic novels, and fiction for teens and young adults. She is the recipient of a Golden Leaf National Publishing Award, an Indspire Indigenous Educator Award, and two Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Nahanni is also Lead Writer for the National Film Board's Indigenous Education and Reconciliation Program. She lives in Stoney Creek, Ontario.