Samish Libraries

Samish Indian Nation has three libraries!

Summit Park (Physical) Library

We have a physical library located at the Summit Park campus. It is a resource for Samish citizens and the local Fidalgo community who wish to learn more about native culture, language, history, and other aspects of native life. While our collection here focuses on Northwest Coast (including First Nations), we also have books on Plains, Southwest, and Woodlands tribes. We have books on native plants and their uses, famous native artists, native crafts (including how-to books), and local history. We even have large children's and young adult sections and a wide selection of DVDs!

Libby (Digital) Library

In 2023, we started a digital library through the Libby app! We have a rapidly growing selection of e-books and audiobooks, and you can find our book club selections through Libby.

Sní7new7 (Living) Library

Debuted in 2024, we call our third library Sní7new7. It's a living library only accessible to Samish citizens, a place to ask questions to elders about Samish culture and traditional lifeways. Answers will be documented for the next seven generations.

Our hands go up to Samish citizen Jan Flagg who started the physical library and nurtured it for 20 years. Jan had an amazing talent for recognizing and purchasing books that enhance our collection.

Sní7new7 Library

Libby Digital Library

We now have free e-books and audiobooks available! Click here to learn about the Libby app.

Samish Book Club

Did you know we have a book club at Samish? We meet virtually once a month to discuss books available in our library! Previous books include Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, One Story, One Song by Richard Wagamese, Two Old Women by Velma Wallis, and The Language Warrior's Manifesto by Anton Teuer.

Our upcoming books are Jestinel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders by Children of the Setting Sun Productions on November 12 and Haboo: Native American Stories from Puget Sound by Vi taqʷšəblu Hilbert on December 10. To join us, please email RSVP@samishtribe.nsn.us for the link!

Chelángen Library Blog

Book recommendations from Reader's Window

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Winter 2024-2025

Nov 21, 2024, 14:42 by Julie Hanson, Samish Library Assistant

Winter Blessings To All!

While the library has been physically closed, I have been very busy conducting an inventory. If I had to guess, I’m 30% through over 4600 items. We have a lot of books!

Additions in the last couple of months:

Rez Rules by Chief Clarence Louie

Indian Killer by Alexie Sherman

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich

Spider Woman’s Web by Susan Hazen-Hammond

Dale DeArmond: A First Book of Her Prints by Dale DeArmond

An Afro-Indigenous History of United States by Kyle Mays

We received a lovely donation from Friends of Orcas Island Library as well!

Reviews:

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdich

This was my first, but won’t be my last book, by this author. Set in a dystopian not-too-distant future, there are forces at work changing the DNA of all living things. The book is a diary written by a first-time mother to her unborn child.

Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders by Children of the Setting Sun Productions

Book Club book for November was phenomenal. 16 Elders offer their perspectives on language revitalization, Coast Salish family values and naming practices, salmon, sovereignty, canoe racing, and storytelling. They also share traumatic memories, including their boarding school experiences and the epidemics that ravished their communities. Beautiful photographs throughout, I was struck by the dignity, humor, and humility of all of the stories shared.

December Book Club, Tuesday, December 10^th: Haboo: Native American Stories from Puget Sound, translated and edited by Vi Hilbert. We will discuss and determine future selections at this meeting!

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