Kelly Fournel,
Great Women from Our First Nations
Second Story Press, 2007

Rating: G*

Great Women From our First Nations by Kelly Fournel contains short biographies of ten native American women who have "all worked hard at creating opportunities for themselves despite facing different challenges" (p. vii). The women included are Suzanne Rochon-Burnett, Pauline Johnson - Tekahionwake, Thocmetony (Sarah) Winnemucca, Maria Tallchief, Wilma Mankiller, May Kim Titla, Lorna B. Williams, Susan Aglukark, Winona LaDuke, and Sandra Lovelace Nicholas. All are members of native groups from either the United States or Canada and most faced discrimination of some kind but were able to rise above this treatment and make a difference in their communities.

The biographies are 4-5 pages in length and include brief information about each woman’s childhood, their education and their efforts to work for the betterment of native peoples while establishing a worthwhile life for themselves. Black and white photographs are also included.

This book will be of interest to young female readers looking for positive role models. It will also be of interest to students examining the role of women in Canadian and American society and to students of Canadian and American history.

Thematic Links: Native American Women; United States - Women - Biography; Canada - Women - Biography

Victoria Pennell
Vol. 13, number 2
December 2007

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.