To honor Indigenous traditions, languages and stories during Native American Heritage Month, we're highlighting some University Libraries resources and recommended reads.

The University of Arizona Press recommendations

Understanding Tribal Sovereignty: Federal Indian Law and Self-Governance by Donald L. Fixico 

Acclaimed historian Fixico unpacks the complex history and legal foundations of tribal sovereignty in the United States. From traditional Native governance to landmark treaties, federal laws, and court cases, Fixico guides readers through the evolution of tribal self-rule and its modern expressions—from tribal constitutions to license plates and casinos. Designed for students, educators, tribal members, and professionals alike, this book offers a clear, compelling introduction to one of the most important—and often misunderstood—concepts in American Indian affairs.

¡Huelga! Indigenous Farm Labor Organizing in Mexico by James Daria 

On March 17, 2015, tens of thousands of Mexican farmworkers went on strike in San Quintin, Baja California, to protest horrible working conditions on the farms that produce most of the fresh fruits and vegetables you consume. Calling themselves the "slaves of the twenty-first century," these mostly Indigenous men, women, and children rose up in defiance of the conditions of modern slavery, forced labor, sexual harassment, and "hunger wages." 

This ethnography provides an in-depth look into how Indigenous farmworkers organize in the fields and their communities to improve wages and working conditions. Since the strike, the farmworkers have organized a union to fight for justice in the fields. In accompanies these farmworkers as they struggle for dignity. In an era of complex global integration, Daria shows us how what we eat is tied to the suffering of those who produce our food. 

Incense and Performance: The Lives of Mexica Ritual Specialists by Josefrayn Sánchez-Perry

At the time of the conquest of Mexico, the anonymous authors of the Anales de Tlatelolco (1560s) recorded the deaths of two Mexica ritual specialists. During the tumultuous events of the times, Quauhnochtli (a telpochcalli specialist) and Quauhcoatl (a calmecac specialist) died protecting the temple of Huitzilopochtli and his bundled embodiment in the neighborhood of Huitznahuac.

Scholar Sánchez-Perry reconstructs the lives and labors of the two specialists, articulated through Nahuatl-language texts, material culture from neighborhood and temple spaces, and the academic study of religion. The book expands on known theories on Mexica ritual specialists by providing new insights about telpochcalli and calmecac duties, their interrelated educational models, and the collective practices that brought people, animals, flora, specialists, and teteo (more-than-human forces) together.

The University of Arizona Press (UA Press) is the premier publisher of academic, regional, and literary works in the state of Arizona. UA Press disseminates ideas and knowledge of lasting value that enrich understanding, inspire curiosity, and enlighten readers. UA Press advances the University of Arizona’s mission by connecting scholarship and creative expression to readers worldwide.

Wildcats Reads recommendation

Trickster: Native American tales, a graphic collection edited by Matt Dembicki

All cultures have tales of the trickster, a craft creature or being who uses cunning to get food, steal precious possessions, or simply cause mischief. He disrupts the order of things, often humiliating others and sometimes himself.

In Native American traditions, the trickster takes many forms, from coyote or rabbit to raccoon or raven. "Trickster" brings together Native American folklore and the world of comics. This inspired collaboration pairs 24 Native storytellers with 24 accomplished artists, telling cultural tales from across North America.

Wildcat Reads is a collection of recreational titles over a wide range of genres available for checkout on the 3rd floor of the Main Library.

Indigenous History in the Borderlands LibGuide

LibGuides are subject guides created by librarians that pull all types of information about a particular subject or course of study. Our Indigenous History in the Borderlands LibGuide is the third in a series of libguides focused on the history of marginalized groups in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands including Akimel O'odham, Apache, Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Paiute, Quechan, Seri, Tohono O'odham, Yaqui, Yavapai, and Zuni.

Databases

• American Indian Newspapers provides access to 200+ years of Indigenous journalism from the U.S. and Canada.
• American Indian Movement and Native American Radicalism includes FBI documentation on AIM and informant reports and materials.
• You can find more American Indian Studies resources in the A-Z Database guide. 

Research guides

• American Indian Studies
• Information from Non-Dominant Perspectives