Here are selected readings of vital Native American articles and fiction

November 6, 12:17 PMAlbuquerque Contemporary Literature ExaminerPeter Kelton

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Native American Heritage Month began November with an address in which President Barack Obama told Native Americans at a White House Tribal Nations Conference, “I know what it means to feel ignored and forgotten, what it means to struggle. So you will not be forgotten as long as I’m in this White House.” Leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes attended.

His talk echoed in Albuquerque where some of the largest collections of Native American literature reside. The public library system alone carries 708 titles, ranging from "Encyclopedia of Native American Artists" (Greenwood Press) by Deborah Everett and Elayne Zorn to "Settlers and strangers: native Americans of the desert Southwest and history as they saw it" (Macmillan) by Betty Baker (See University of Minnesota).

The full text of the president's talk can be obtained by clicking here on White House.

Among the more literary selections available from the Native American collections in Albuquerque are 15 novels listed on Amazon. To sample, click here on Native American.

Among the selections is "Animal Dreams" (Buccaneer Books) by Barbara Kingsolver. She's the author of the acclaimed "The Bean Trees" and "Homeland." According to the publisher, "'Animal Dreams' is a powerful story of love and courage in an exotic southwestern landscape. Blending flashbacks, dreams, and Native American myths, this is a suspenseful love story and a moving exploration of life's greatest commitments."

Somewhere in the 708 titles a reader is likely to find a work worth his or her reading time. Many of the books are by New Mexico residents. "Avenging Victorio" by Dave DeWitt ranks high among the local creations. Click here to see earlier article.