Graphic novels are a relatively young medium, but have a special ability to cut right to the chase of a story. They provide a type of double understanding that helps to reinforce complex ideas. By pairing text with illustration, the art form helps us to experience the work as a whole. Additionally, comics are an important tool for accessibility. A person who may not read a 300 page book may be able to read a 300 page graphic novel with little trouble. This list is meant to serve as a jumping off point into literature by Indigenous authors. These graphic novels range from historical to contemporary. They cover topics from history, to activism, to the interpersonal. What these works have in common is their commitment to decolonization and powerful stories. For more great Native, Indigenous, and First Nations reads, check out Native children’s literature, Indigenous memoirs, and great audiobooks by Native, Indigenous, and First Nations writers. The graphic novel details the experiences of a young boy and his mother who are posed a not-so-simple question: Are you Canadian or American? They answer Blackfoot. Hence, the two of them are stuck in limbo between nations.
