Today we continue the Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep series with an essay by author Traci Sorell. Thank you, Traci.
When I write nonfiction (or fiction for that matter), I
focus on making the invisible visible. If someone had asked my focus five years
ago when I began writing for children, I wouldn’t have answered that way. Back
then, I just wanted to have a picture book showing present-day Cherokee life
and people to share with my young son, and none existed.
But my focus expanded when I realized how few
contemporary books (nonfiction or fiction) there are when you consider there
are over 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Most books are
written by people with no familiarity or knowledge of the tribe(s), people,
land base, or history. This results in most of those books having inaccurate
text and images that most readers take as fact.
contemporary books (nonfiction or fiction) there are when you consider there
are over 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States. Most books are
written by people with no familiarity or knowledge of the tribe(s), people,
land base, or history. This results in most of those books having inaccurate
text and images that most readers take as fact.
 |
| Traci in 11th grade |
I didn’t realize the Cherokee or other Native Nations and
their citizens were invisible until I was a teen. That’s when my family moved from
northeastern Oklahoma where my tribe is located to Southern California.
No one in my new community knew or understood I was a
dual citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the United States. Even the tribes from
the San Diego area didn’t figure into the local news or community events, and they
certainly weren’t included in the school curriculum. Talk about identity
crisis.
dual citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the United States. Even the tribes from
the San Diego area didn’t figure into the local news or community events, and they
certainly weren’t included in the school curriculum. Talk about identity
crisis.
This invisibility caused me to major in Native American
Studies in college. I wanted to read, research, and know my own tribe’s history
and contributions. I wanted to learn more about other Native Nations too.
Studies in college. I wanted to read, research, and know my own tribe’s history
and contributions. I wanted to learn more about other Native Nations too.
After college, I pursued advanced degrees, studying how
federal laws and policies impacted Native Nations and their inherent
sovereignty. Not exactly what anyone in my family expected from a
first-generation college graduate.
federal laws and policies impacted Native Nations and their inherent
sovereignty. Not exactly what anyone in my family expected from a
first-generation college graduate.
I find a lot of abhorrent laws and policies get enacted
and upheld in federal courts when stories are not told, when Indigenous people
are invisible, and when the sovereignty of Native Nations is not honored. Devastating
consequences result.
and upheld in federal courts when stories are not told, when Indigenous people
are invisible, and when the sovereignty of Native Nations is not honored. Devastating
consequences result.
I want to shine a light on those injustices in my work,
so children know the history of what has happened—and continues to happen—in
this country. Even if the history doesn’t make it into textbooks, I want to see
those stories available on school and public library shelves.
so children know the history of what has happened—and continues to happen—in
this country. Even if the history doesn’t make it into textbooks, I want to see
those stories available on school and public library shelves.
There are so many amazing contributions that Native
Nations and their citizens have made and continue to make, but those stories
have rarely been told. When they have, it is usually in service to white-focused
narratives, not the humanity, resiliency, and hard work of Indigenous peoples.
Nations and their citizens have made and continue to make, but those stories
have rarely been told. When they have, it is usually in service to white-focused
narratives, not the humanity, resiliency, and hard work of Indigenous peoples.
Knowing this, I plan to be busy the rest of my life
actively recruiting other Native writers and artists to enter the world of
children’s literature. Our ability as Native Nations to remain sovereign,
provide for our citizens, and contribute to the broader mainstream society
depends on greater visibility and education of all children in the United States.
Accurate books are critical to this effort.
actively recruiting other Native writers and artists to enter the world of
children’s literature. Our ability as Native Nations to remain sovereign,
provide for our citizens, and contribute to the broader mainstream society
depends on greater visibility and education of all children in the United States.
Accurate books are critical to this effort.
I’m grateful for the Native creators who have already
been doing the work in this field. I’m humbled to add my contributions to this
effort.
been doing the work in this field. I’m humbled to add my contributions to this
effort.
My debut nonfiction picture book, We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga (Charlesbridge, 2018), shares the
value of gratitude as taught in contemporary Cherokee culture across the four
seasons. I’m working on two picture book biographies that feature Native women—one
from science and the other from politics. I want to do what I can to make sure
Indigenous peoples are never overlooked, cast aside, or rendered invisible
again.
value of gratitude as taught in contemporary Cherokee culture across the four
seasons. I’m working on two picture book biographies that feature Native women—one
from science and the other from politics. I want to do what I can to make sure
Indigenous peoples are never overlooked, cast aside, or rendered invisible
again.
Traci Sorell received a Sibert Honor Award for We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga. She also writes poems and fiction
for young people. Before writing for children, Traci advocated for the rights
of Native American Nations and their citizens at the White House and U.S.
Congress. She is an enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen and again lives in
northeastern Oklahoma where her tribe is located. For a complete list of her
forthcoming works, visit www.tracisorell.com.
for young people. Before writing for children, Traci advocated for the rights
of Native American Nations and their citizens at the White House and U.S.
Congress. She is an enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen and again lives in
northeastern Oklahoma where her tribe is located. For a complete list of her
forthcoming works, visit www.tracisorell.com.
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3 Responses
Congrats on all the success for We Are Grateful, Traci! Looking forward to your other books!
Congrats, Traci, on entering the world of nonfiction kidlit with such a beautiful book! Looking forward to seeing your upcoming bios, too. I'm glad you decided to shed some light on your culture through your own books and by helping other Native American authors get their voices heard.
What a compelling, authentic story. Thanks to Anita Silvey for surfacing this piece and this author.