Published:
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the DC Public Library has scheduled a lineup of compelling events headlined by New York Times bestselling author Carole Lindstrom and acclaimed photographer Matika Wilbur.
Carole Lindstrom will discuss her latest book, "Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior," on Nov. 4 at the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library. The book focuses on Autumn Peltier, an Indigenous clean water activist. It examines her efforts to secure clean water for Indigenous communities and highlights her role in advocating for environmental justice at a young age. Lindstrom, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, has earned critical acclaim, including a Caldecott Medal for her previous work, "We Are Water Protectors."
Lindstrom's author talk supports the Library's Beyond the Book program. Targeting District readers in first through third grades, Beyond the Book provides selected titles and educational activities to deepen understanding and enhance reading skills. It also gives parents and caregivers tips to support their children's literacy development. The program is supported by the DC Public Library Foundation.
Following Lindstrom, Matika Wilbur will present her groundbreaking Project 562 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on Nov. 9. Project 562 features images and stories from all 562 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Wilbur, who belongs to the Swinomish and Tulalip tribes of coastal Washington, created an unparalleled repository of imagery and oral histories, offering an authentic portrayal of contemporary Native Americans.
Matika Wilbur's presentation is a featured event in the Public Square series. Launched by the DC Public Library in January 2023, the series proactively confronts issues of equity by inviting leaders and innovators to discuss the next phase of their work or scholarship.
The Library's Native American Heritage Month programming, the Public Square and the Beyond the Book program is supported by the DC Public Library Foundation. A limited number of copies of "Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior" and "Project 562" will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the respective author events.
For more information on the DC Public Library's Native American Heritage Month events, visit https://www.dclibrary.org/native-american-heritage-month.