Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

Kids travel from all over the U.S. and parts of Canada to converge at a powwow at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. For some, it's a special occasion; for others, a routine part of their year. Some are the children of vendors; many dance; at least two are grieving the death of a parent. The characters connect through the stories, and a friendly rez dog wearing an "Ancestor Approved" t-shirt runs through them all.

A fabulous and necessary collection. Structurally and thematically, it reminded me a bit of There, There by Tommy Orange, but as a middle grade collection the content is lighter; in this way it reminded me of Once Upon an Eid.

Back matter includes glossaries for each story (e.g. Cree for "Fancy Dancer," Choctaw for show more "Warriors of Forgiveness," etc.), notes and acknowledgments, and about the contributors.

Quotes

"Sometimes in life, you gotta be brave before you can be good." ("Fancy Dancer," Monique Gray Smith, 18)

"But...you do belong. And everybody's different. It's not on you to feel the same, it's on others to accept you because you're not. It's on you to be okay with being different." ("Brothers," David A. Robertson, 70)

"It'll be fun," my mom said, which meant, for sure, it wouldn't be. ("Indian Price," Eric Gansworth, 126)

Seeing non-Indians dressing up and participating in intertribals was part of what you signed up for on the circuit. Powwow culture was partly a welcome to all who were interested. But it still felt like someone was putting on a costume of you. (Gansworth, 139)

Missing my dad kind of filled in the space where I should have been lonely. I mean, I already felt so full of sadness there didn't seem to be any room in my life to be lonely. ("The Ballad of Maggie Wilson," Andrea L. Rogers, 246)

When you love someone and they die, you feel like the whole world should notice - all good things should stop. (Rogers, 249) show less

Really strong collection of stories, and a really beautiful group effort in the writing. I love how the stories speak to one another -- there are little shout-outs -- like the book Skeleton Man (by Joseph Burchac) in one of the other stories, or the recurring rez dog in a t-shirt that says "Ancestor Approved" on it, or the way the characters see each other as part of the larger tapestry of the pow-wow. It could be laborious and heavy-handed, but with these stellar authors it becomes a brightly woven tale. There are some characters with larger stories out in the world, there are some new ones we will only meet for the space of the story.

This collection of short stories by indigenous authors all across the U.S. tell the stories of several Native children, generally between the ages of 9 and 12, who are all going to a powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The stories really showcase the depth and breadth of the experiences of Native people today. Some kids live in a tribal community, some do not. The shared space of the powwow allows some overlap in the stories, and it was fun to see a character from one pop up in the other. The quality of stories varied - none were bad, but some had the stilted sort of writing of an adult not sure how to write for kids, or someone used to novels unsure with a short story format. My favorites were "Rez Dog Rules" by Rebecca Roanhorse, in which show more the main character was indeed the dog, and "Bad Dog" by Joseph Bruchac, in which a boy named Wendell has an encounter with an older man who imparts some wisdom. I'll look forward to checking out some of the longer works by the authors included here. show less

"groundbreaking Indigenous anthology for young people.

Readers can join the fun in this collection of 18 contemporary stories and poems about loving families from various parts of the U.S. and Canada who travel to meet, dance, sing, socialize, and honor Native traditions at an intertribal powwow. The entries tell of the personal struggles, family joy, belief systems, and stunning regalia of various nations, including the Cree, Ojibwe, Choctaw, Cherokee, Navajo, Abenaki, and Haudenosaunee, through the eyes of the young protagonists. Enrollment issues, Indian wannabes, and veterans’ histories are just a few of the serious themes addressed in these entertaining stories written by familiar and lesser-known writers alike. Senses of goodwill show more and humor pervade the book as well as the spirit of community, intersection, resilience, and a desire to remember the past. Whether engaging with the quiet spiritual strength displayed in “Fancy Dancer” by Monique Gray Smith or the profound point of view of Brian Young’s “Senecavajo,” the stories are full of surprises. Rebecca Roanhorse writes from a dog’s vantage point, and Dawn Quigley asks about the nature of intelligence. Many other original tales complete this anthology of modern Natives celebrating their diversity together. An especially winning feature is the glossary in which various Indigenous vocabulary words in the stories are defined.

A joyful invitation to celebrate the circle of ancestors together. (about the authors) (Anthology. 10-14)" A Kirkus Starred Review, www.kirkusreviews.com show less

Booktalk: One of the biggest Indian powwows in the country is taking place in Michigan. Native American kids are coming from all over: Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, even Canada. They are from tribes such as the Cherokee, Choctaw, Cree, Navajo, Ojibwe, and Seneca. They have come to celebrate their native culture and participate in the dance competitions: smoke dance, jingle dress, fancy dance and grass dance. In this collection of short stories, all kinds of things happen at the powwow. Some kids are nervous about dancing for the first time. Other kids are helping their families sell art, books, t-shirts, and of course, food--including the World’s Best Fry Bread. New friends are made and one kid even solves a crime. show more If you’ve never been to a powwow, reading these stories will make you want to go to one. And if you do, look out for the little dog wearing a t-shirt that says ANCESTOR APPROVED... show less

Eighteen Native American writers each write a story about a child and their family heading towards a pow wow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since the eighteen authors are from a variety of tribes spanning the US and Canada, the stories include kids from many indigenous nations.

Many of the stories are somewhat alike as a young person gets ready to compete in dance contests, help their family sell items at the pow-wow, meet far away family members and meet new friends. Sometimes the characters, especially a dog wearing a tee shirt that says ‘Ancestor Approved” are recurring. A few include a supernatural encounter.

My favorite was “Little Fox and the Case of the Missing Regalia” by Erika T. Wurth. In it, a young detective solves a series show more of thefts and deals with the wrongdoer in a very Indian way.

These stories highlight the differences and similarities in various tribes and families. All are uplifting and positive – there is none of the uncomfortable grit that characterizes many books by Native authors written for adults. And although, I’ve never been quite certain if white people are welcomed at powwows, while this book does address cultural appropriation, it also makes clear that everyone is invited to attend and participate in particular ways.

The front of the library book I borrowed is marked Grade 4 reading level; grade 4-7 interest level. show less

This book forms part of a collection. It includes stories and poems from different artists. I love the message behind this book; it pictures Natives of American as the heroes in their own stories. It shows the power and beauty in their culture, traditional clothings, dances, etc. A perfect book for late elementary school up to early elementary.