Indigenous Owned Bookstores
As we share a variety of Indigenous written books throughout the year, we are excited to share this compiled list of Indigenous owned bookstores across the United States and Canada, as well as online only bookstores. We view literature, alongside oral tradition and experiential scholarship, as an important tool to expand knowledge. We hope that you consider supporting these and other Indigenous owned businesses and organizations.
Online Only
Black Walnut Books, owned by Hillary, Southern Pomo and Coastal Miwok, member of Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, focuses on empowering, sharing and amplifying Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and queer communities, voices and authors. They offer an online Bookshop and audiobooks, as well as a Queer Book Club and Indigenous and Lit Book Club.
Paperbacks and Frybread Co., owned by Dominique, member of the Lumbee Tribe, offers an online Bookshop and six Surprise Book Box Subscriptions, as well as free Audiobooks and a Gift Registry.
Raven Reads, owned by Nicole McLaren, mixed-heritage and Michif, was founded on the premise of raising awareness of our collective histories, lived experiences and supporting Indigenous authors and entrepreneurs. They are a 100% Indigenous and women run business, and offer an online Bookshop, Subscription Boxes, Gift Boxes, and much more.
Strong Nations is lead by Terri and Ken Mack. Terri is a member of the Da'naxda'xw Awaetlala Nation. They offer an online Bookshop, Book Bundles and wholesale options.
United States
Kansas
Books & Burrow is owned by the Shultz family, as a proud member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the store is dedicated to highlighting Indigenous authors and stories. They offer an online Bookshop as well as their in-person location in Pittsburg, Kansas, book clubs, film screenings, and more.
212 S Broadway St, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Texas
Red Salmon Arts, Casa de Resistencia Books is a 501(c)3 grassroots cultural arts organization, with a thirty-year history of working with the indigenous neighborhoods of Austin, Texas. RSA is dedicated to the development of emerging writers and the promotion of Chicana/o/x/Latina/o/x/Native American literature, providing outlets and mechanisms for cultural exchange, and sharing in the retrieval of a people’s cultural heritage with a commitment to social justice. Red Salmon Arts was founded by Raul Salinas, best known for his prison poetry and work with the Prisoner Rights Movement and the American Indian Movement.
2000 Thrasher Ln, Austin, TX 78741
New Mexico
ATCG Books and Comics, formerly known as Red Planet Books and Comics, was founded by Dr. Lee Francis IV of Laguna Pueblo, ATCG Books and Comics is the only Indigenous comic book store in the United States. They offer online shopping alongside their in-person location.
1002 Park Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Hawaii
Nā Mea Hawai'i have made it a priority to help each person get to a source of knowledge for the information they need, through books, people, mele, experiences, they want to be a place that offers Native Knowledge Exchange regardless of the sales outcome. They offer books, clothing, accessories, and more.
96814 Hawaii, Honolulu, Ala Moana Blvd
Native Books Hawai’i founded by Maile Meyer in 1990, an avid reader and entrepreneurial spirit, after being asked why she was interested in a book business when “Hawaiians don’t read.” Meyer was inspired while attending the Hawaiian Leadership Development Conference. The conference, run by sister Manulani Meyer in Hilo (the birthplace of the Meyer sisters’ mother Emma Akana Aluli) was filled with kanaka and people who shared essential Hawaiian values and were hungry to access written materials by our kūpuna. They offer a wide array of books as well as gifts.
1164 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96817
Minnesota
Birch Bark Books is owned and operated by Indigenous staff.. They offer a wide array of books, games, artwork, gifts, and more.Alongside their in-person location, they offer an online bookshop.
2115 W 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Canada
Ontario
GoodMinds is owned and operated by First Nations staff, they are a leading source of Indigenous education resources for schools and libraries in North America, while continuing to promote Indigenous authors, illustrators and translators.
188 Mohawk St, Brantford, ON N3S 2X2, Canada
Barely Bruised Books offers a wide selection of novels, short stories, and picture books. They also ship worldwide and offer 20% off all books that require shipping. Barely Bruised Books also offers the largest Little Free Library in Ontario outside of their physical location.
315 Rue Wilbrod St 2 upstairs, Ottawa, ON K1N 6M5, Canada
British Columbia
Iron Dog Books is an Indigenous-owned bookshop and booktruck dedicated to bringing great books to Səl̓ilwətaɁɬ, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm territories (metro Vancouver). Their owners are Nuu Chah Nulth/Tsimsian and Anishinaabe/Settler. They offer an online bookshop and a bookshop on wheels alongside their permanent physical location.
2671 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z5, Canada
Massy Books is 100% Indigenous owned and operated and a member of the Stó:lō Business Association operated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded, and occupied territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. They offer an online bookshop alongside their in-person location as well as an Art Gallery with a focus on Indigenous and underrepresented practices.
229 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6, Canada
Librairie Hennanoraki, located in the heart of the Wendake community, opened its doors in the summer of 2009 thanks to Daniel Sioui. An independent accredited institution and the only bookstore located in an Indigenous community in Quebec, Librairie Hannenorak is proud to be the general bookstore of choice for residents of the North Shore of Québec City. It is committed to promoting First Nations literature by providing amateurs with a specialized section.
87 Bd Bastien, Wendake, QC G0A 4V0, Canada