LEARN ABOUT NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH AT THE LIBRARY

THE LIBRARY WILL HOST A STORYWALK FOR 'SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A FOX' BY INDIGENOUS AUTHOR DANIELLE DANIEL THIS SUMMER

If you were looking for a couple of different ways to recognize National Indigenous History Month, the Port Colborne Public Library has what you need.

The Port Colborne Public Library has dedicated spaces for people to explore and easily find books by Indigenous creators about Indigenous history.

Earlier this year, the library expanded the collection by adding nominated

titles from the 2021-2022 First Nations Communities Read (FNCR) program.

The FNCR collection was purchased from GoodMinds.com, a First Nations family-owned business that is passionate about Indigenous education. Funding was received in partnership

with the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum through a Niagara Investment in Culture grant, with support from the Niagara Region

"The Board's vision is to empower, enrich and educate. The grant not only served to enhance our collections but helps us help our user communities learn more about the invaluable contributions of Indigenous Peoples by expanding access to the works of Indigenous authors," said Susan Therrien, director of library services.

Beginning on June 21, in partnership with the TD Summer Reading Club, the Port Colborne Public Library will showcase the award-winning children's book "Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox" by Indigenous author Danielle Daniel in a StoryWalk.

A StoryWalk is a fun, socially distanced activity that places a children's book, page by page, on poster boards along a path or in a park. Families have the opportunity to enjoy reading a book while strolling through their community.

The Port Colborne Public Library will set up the

StoryWalk outdoors on library property from June 21 until Aug. 27. Everyone is welcome to discover and read "Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox" throughout the summer when they visit. The book is an introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals and is also available at the library for patrons to borrow and read at home.

Librarian Rachel Tkachuk said there are also new additions to the Library of Things and new Take and Makes for the summer. Tkachuk said they had ten kits planned in total.

The Library of Things features kits that staff put together, which include toys and activities and things that families can do together.

The kits available include Lego kits, a Duplo kit, Code-a-Pillar, Magformers, Tegu Sticky Monsters, bells and shakers, a magic kit and interactive movie kits.

In July, they will be adding a pass to grant day access to one of the many paid Niagara Peninsula Conservation Areas like Ball's Falls or Long Beach.

She said they have also added "Cain's Jawbone" by Edward Powys Mathers. It is a murder mystery novel with 100 single-sided pages in the wrong order. To solve the puzzle, readers must determine the correct order of pages. Only three people have correctly solved it — two in 1935 and one in 2021.

Tkachuk and Therrien also showed off booths, some for an individual and others for a small group, where a meeting could be held or used for to host a virtual meeting.

To learn more, visit the Port Colborne Public Library's website.