The recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day took root from an idea planted in 1977. At an International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, Indigenous peoples first proposed replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day—a holiday to honor and celebrate Indigenous peoples, histories, and cultures.
Twelve years later, South Dakota was the first U.S. state to switch, celebrating Native American Day instead of Columbus Day, with the first celebration taking place the following year. In 1992, activists in Berkeley, California, encouraged the Berkeley City Council to declare a "Day of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples" on October 12, in place of the previously celebrated Columbus Day.
Although Indigenous Peoples Day is not yet a federally recognized holiday, many U.S. states and cities recognize it each year, on the second Monday of October, in place of Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples Day encourages Americans to rethink the country's history, and it recognizes Native peoples as the first inhabitants of the Americas.
"Native American people speak of the seven generations, where decisions and actions taken today must be considered for how they will impact the ones seven generations from now. To me, that's what these Indigenous authors represent," said Fawn Sanchez, a Shoshone-Bannock and Carizo-Comecrudo, president of Amazon’s Indigenous affinity group, and a senior human resources leader at Amazon Web Services. "Their experiences and beliefs come alive in a way that informs and educates others on our beautiful culture."
In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, Amazon Books editors worked with the Indigenous@ affinity group—an Amazon employee community of people who identify as Indigenous and their allies—to identify books about the experiences and heritage of Native peoples. Whether you’re interested in historical fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, or young adult books—or something else entirely—the team has a recommendation for you.
“Books serve as an incredible tool to learn more about diverse cultures and experiences," said Sarah Gelman, editorial director at Amazon Books. "As we recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, the curated list of books will help readers learn more about Native American peoples, their histories, and cultures.”

Page overview

Never Name the Dead

1
Never Name the Dead
2
Sinister Graves (A Cash Blackbear Mystery Book 3)
3
Shutter
4
Night of the Living Rez
5
Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk
6
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
7
Apple (Skin to the Core)
8
Bad Indians
9
Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition
10
Black Sun
11
Blackening Song: An Ella Clah Novel
12
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
13
Ceremony
14
Children of the Longhouse
15
Crooked Hallelujah
16
Empire of the Summer Moon
17
Heart Berries: A Memoir
18
Hearts Unbroken
19
House Made of Dawn
20
How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story
21
If I Ever Get Out of Here
22
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
23
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
24
Killing Crazy Horse: The Merciless Indian Wars in America (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)
25
National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture: Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More
26
Race to the Sun
27
The Blessing Way
28
The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman
29
The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery
30
The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West
31
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present
32
The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America
33
The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story
34
The Very First Americans
35
They Dance in the Sky: Native American Star Myths
36
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
37
We Are Water Protectors
38
Wilma's Way Home: The Life of Wilma Mankiller
39
Winter Counts: A Novel
1
Never Name the Dead

By: D. M. Rowell

2
Sinister Graves (A Cash Blackbear Mystery Book 3)

By: Marcie R. Rendon

3
Shutter

By: Ramona Emerson

4
Night of the Living Rez

By: Morgan Talty

5
Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk

By: Sasha LaPointe

6
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

By: Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

7
Apple (Skin to the Core)

By: Eric Gransworth

8
Bad Indians

By: Deborah Miranda

9
Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition

By: John G. Neihardt

10
Black Sun

By: Rebecca Roanhorse

11
Blackening Song: An Ella Clah Novel

By: Aimee Thurlo

12
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

By: Robin Wall Kimmerer

13
Ceremony

By: Leslie Marmon Silko

14
Children of the Longhouse

By: Joseph Bruchac

15
Crooked Hallelujah

By: Kelli Jo Ford

16
Empire of the Summer Moon

By: S.C. Gwynne

17
Heart Berries: A Memoir

By: Terese Marie Mailhot

18
Hearts Unbroken

By: Cynthia Leitich Smith

19
House Made of Dawn

By: N. Scott Momaday

20
How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story

By Tim Tingle

21
If I Ever Get Out of Here

By Eric Gansworth

22
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse

By: Joseph Marshall

23
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

By: David Grann

24
Killing Crazy Horse: The Merciless Indian Wars in America (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)

By Bill O'Reilly

25
National Geographic Kids Encyclopedia of American Indian History and Culture: Stories, Timelines, Maps, and More

By: Cynthia O'Brien

26
Race to the Sun

By Rebecca Roanhorse

27
The Blessing Way

By: Tony Hillerman

28
The Blue Tattoo: The Life of Olive Oatman

By: Margot Mifflin

29
The Cold Dish: A Longmire Mystery

By: Craig Johnson

30
The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West

By: Peter Cozzens

31
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present

By: David Treuer

32
The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America

By: Andrés Reséndez

33
The Pale-Faced Lie: A True Story

By: David Crow

34
The Very First Americans

By Cara Ashrose

35
They Dance in the Sky: Native American Star Myths

By: Jean Guard Monroe and Roy. A. Williamson

36
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

By: Traci Sorell

37
We Are Water Protectors

By: Carole Lindstrom

38
Wilma's Way Home: The Life of Wilma Mankiller

By: Doreen Rappaport

39
Winter Counts: A Novel

By: David Heska Wanbli