A framing narrative depicts a contemporary, diverse class of Native students presenting on topics related to Native American history and contemporary experience for Indigenous People’s Day. The bulk of the narrative is comprised of the students’ presentations, which cover topics both painful (Allotment, Assimilation, the Indian New Deal, Termination, Relocation) and hopeful (Tribal Activism, Self-Determination, Language Revival, Sovereign Resurgence, and more). An introduction and a handful of related points are provided for each. Extensive end matter for this digestible overview of ever-relevant events and subjects includes a timeline, glossary, and details about the people and events depicted. The colorful, culturally specific illustrations provide more in-depth context for the presentation topics. (Ages 7-10)

A 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Book
A 2022 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Twelve Native American kids present historical and contemporary laws, policies, struggles, and victories in Native life, each with a powerful refrain: We are still here!

Too often, Native American history is treated as a finished chapter instead of relevant and ongoing. This companion book to the award-winning We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga offers readers everything they never learned in school about Native American people's past, present, and future. Precise, lyrical writing presents topics including: forced assimilation (such as boarding schools), land allotment and Native tribal reorganization, termination (the US government not recognizing tribes as nations), Native urban relocation (from reservations), self-determination (tribal self-empowerment), Native civil rights, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), religious freedom, economic development (including casino development), Native language revival efforts, cultural persistence, and nationhood.