Growing Up Native Americ

Stories of oppression and survival, of heritage denied and reclaimed -- twenty-two American writers recall childhood in their native land.

What does it mean to grow up Native American?

• Indian Boarding School Experiences: From military-style schools described as “jails” to punishments for speaking native languages, these narratives reveal the trauma and resilience of a generation.
• Cultural Survival: Discover how heritage is passed down through storytelling, ceremony, and kinship, preserving a way of life against all odds.
• Diverse Indigenous Voices: Listen to twenty-two distinct writers—including Simon Ortiz, Louise Erdrich, and Leslie Marmon Silko—from nations across the U.S. and Canada, from the 19th century to the modern day.
• Heritage and Identity: Explore the profound and often painful journey of growing up with a heritage denied by society but reclaimed through memory, family, and connection to the land.