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SD Honors Native Literature Month

Lily Mendoza

June is Indigenous Book Club Month.

It’s part of an effort to promote Native Literature throughout the U.S. and Canada. A proclamation by Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender to honor the month in South Dakota coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of Greasy Grass also known as the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

Lily Mendoza is the owner of Word Carrier Trading Post, a bookstore in Rapid City.

“ It’s really important first of all for us as an indigenous people to recognize our own people for their accomplishments, especially our authors that write books about our history, not only about our past history but our current history, a part of that is a community to share and do that support stuff,” says Mendoza.

Mendoza says indigenous books help promote literacy in both Native and non-Native peoples, as well as relaying the message of learning through the Native value systems.  Mendoza adds that Native literature shares a version of history that should not be left out.

Clickhere to find out more about Indigenous Book Club Month and to view a reading list of indigenous authors.