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Read Harder Challenge # 1: Read a Book in any Genre by an Indigenous Author
Throughout 2020, All Lit Up-er Tan Light is participating in BookRiot’s Read Harder Challenge—a reading task designed to expand readerly boundaries—and doing so with an indie twist. Each entry in this series will highlight one or two completed challenges along with a list of books from All Lit Up to have you reading harder, too!Â
Challenge #1: Read a book in any genre by a First Nations, or Indigenous author
Book chosen: Dakwäkãda Warriors by Cole Pauls (Conundrum Press), a graphic novel.
Cole Pauls’s work is steeped in his Southern Tutchone culture, which is reflected in both his art and language—Pauls introduces over 100 Southern Tutchone words to readers while entertaining us with heroes who fight Cyber Sasquatches and Space Pioneers. This volume contains the three Dakwäkãda Warriors episodes, along with a few posters, a full glossary, and interesting notes on the development of the series and the Southern Tutchone myth and history incorporated.
Reading a work that’s partly in another language is challenging. I felt like I was in grade school with a reading primer as I started out. But by the end, I was reading almost smoothly and felt rather accomplished. Kwänischis, Cole, for this learning opportunity! I would challenge any comics-loving, language-arts nerds to pick this up.
Looking for more great work by First Nations, Inuit or Metis authors? Rather than presenting you with a shortlist, I invite you to peruse All Lit Up’s Indigenous Litspace, a showcase page dedicated to highlighting Indigenous authors and artists. * * *Want to join me? 
