Recognize whose land you’re on
The Palo Alto City Library is situated within the boundaries of the ancestral lands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, the Tamien Nation, and the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples. This land continues to be of great importance to Ohlone Native peoples.
Use Native Land Map to identify the tribal lands you are living on.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by learning about the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Indigenous peoples. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes and hundreds of other tribal entities in the United States that are not. Explore these resources to honor the contemporary contributions of Native communities, the history of Indigenous peoples, and learn more about their distinct identities & customs.
Keep up to date with current perspectives and developments from modern Indigenous communities with News from Native California, "a quarterly magazine devoted to the vibrant cultures, arts, languages, histories, social justice movements, and stories of California’s diverse Indian peoples."
Join us for storytime
- November 7: Family Storytime at Downtown
- November 8: Family Storytime at Mitchell Park
- November 13: Hora de Cuentos en Español at College Terrace
- November 18: Family Storytime at Children's
Staff Recommendations
Young Children:
- Native American Stories for Young Minds
- Picture Books: Native American Heritage Month
- Books to Celebrate and Learn about Indigenous Peoples
Youth and Teens:
Adults:
- Contemporary Indigenous Novels
- Read Harder 2020: Books by Native, First Nations, or Indigenous Authors
- Celebrating Art by Indigenous Creators
- Indigenous movies to watch
Additional Resources
- Check out the latest issue of Alta Magazine to learn about Lance Richardson’s new biography True Nature: The Pilgrimage of Peter Matthiessen, whose award-winning books advocated for Indigenous people’s rights.
- Attend the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma) Lecture Series from Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences:
- Tuesday, November 11 The Trail of Truth Continues
- Tuesday, November 18 Chochenyo: A Language Reawakened
- Explore online resources from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian such as their digitized collection and Native Knowledge 360° for classroom learning
Separate facts from myths
Learn about Native American History from the Crash Course team's free YouTube channel, including an episode featuring Lily Gladstone about Indigenous women.
Examine 9 Myths About Thanksgiving & The Real Facts Behind Them.
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