Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing

07/07/2024

Looking forward to talking with folks about Beginnings: The Homeward Journey of Donovan Manypenny.

06/27/2024

We'll be at the Red Cliff Library (Wisconsin) talking about IN WHISPERS: Simon and Carolina, a boarding school love story. Join us at 6:00 PM CDT

06/11/2024

This upcoming Saturday there will be a reading and kid's activity at the Red Cliff (Wisconsin) library of Makoons, by Elizabeth Albert-Peacock, June 15th, 11:00 am.

06/08/2024

The story follows the lives of Simon Pendagayosh and Carolina Shaugobay, who meet in a Catholic boarding school for Native children and fall in love. It combines the trauma of the boarding school period with a love story. Set on the Fond du Lac and Leech Lake Reservations of northern Minnesota. You'll fall in love with Simon and Carolina.

06/07/2024

We'll be at the Red Cliff Library (Wisconsin) in a few weeks discussing In Whispers, Simon and Carolina, a boarding school love story.

05/01/2024

Betsy on a billboard!

It's May 1! Onigaaminsing (Duluth) has a new digital billboard out featuring Red Cliff Ojibwe author and tribal member Elizabeth (Betsy) Albert-Peacock. The billboard will be displayed for the whole month on Central Entrance in Duluth, MN.

To follow and support Betsy and see more of her books:
www.blackbearsandblueberries.com or Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing on FB.

Miigwech to McKnight Foundation for funding our digital AICHO Gallery Authors, Artists and Creatives themed billboards which help us promote and uplift Indigenous and BIPOC creatives 24/7.

04/28/2024

NATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL NOVEL RELEASED

Dovetailed Press, Duluth, Minnesota, has just released a new novel by Ojibwe author Thomas Peacock, In Whispers: Simon and Carolina, a Native boarding school, love story.

A description:

The year was 1957. Simon Pendagayosh and Carolina Shaugobay meet outside a variety store on a Saturday trip to town while attending St. Mary’s Mission School, a Catholic boarding school for Native students. Simon, thirteen years of age and Carolina, fourteen, fall in love.
The boarding school era had a devastating effect on many Native people, designed to dispossess them from their communities, assimilate them into non-Native society, and erase their Native identities. St. Mary’s, like most Native boarding schools in the day, prohibited Native children from speaking their languages or practicing their culture. Many suffered abuse in all its forms. Carolina was traumatized by horrific abuse at the school. Simon’s life was forever affected by what happened. Follow their divergent paths as they walk through life.
Yet, despite it all, there was love.
“Still, it was love. I cannot lessen or deny it was, that young love is entirely possible, indeed. That if Juliet, just thirteen years of age, and Romeo, at just sixteen years, could have such a love, we could as well. That it was as real as anything I have experienced the whole of my lifetime.” (Carolina)

03/17/2024

We'll be up in the UP in April talking about and reading from The Wolf's Trail.

03/13/2024

We have the coolest, funniest, most amazing little book coming out yet. Order yours now.

MAKOONS. NEW! A curious cub wanting to use the campground toilet. Lessons about bears and answers the question, "Do bears moo (poo) in the woods?"

$12.95

02/24/2024

We proudly announce the publication of Dancing on Wild Rice, a new book by Elizabeth Albert-Peacock. Dancing on Wild Rice is a heartfelt story that follows the journey of Savana, a young girl who learns the profound significance of her Ojibwe heritage through the tradition of wild rice harvesting. Now available at Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing. $12.95

02/08/2024

Odia Wood-Krueger
Tired of educators asking you which Native books are "good"? This document, released today through the Understand Native Minnesota campaign, will help guide folks in the right direction!
The introductory piece sets the tone for vetting resources, understanding language dialect differences, and discusses why representation matters. It offers suggestions of resources to meet the 87 Minnesota ELA standards that mention Native Americans, and provides a list of 550 resources that are recommended for use. If that isn't enough, the resources have also been sorted into lists to make it even easier for teachers to decide what to use in their classrooms.
Download A Guide to Reliable Native American-Related Teaching Resources here: https://www.understandnativemn.org/.../2024_-Native...

01/28/2024

A heart-warming tale of the most frigid of Ojibwe figures, Biboonkeonini (Wintermaker) pays a visit to Zaagi, a young Ojibwe girl who has grown tired of the long winter Biboonkeonini has created. Introduces some Ojibwemowin.

12/28/2023

11/29/2023

Michelle Cronin·
Thank you to Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing & owners, Tom & Betsy Peacock, for joining the Oñgwaga•ä' Writer's Workshop to discuss the publishing process, the differences between small & large publishers, advances, rights, and numerous other topics!
Tom & Betsy, you know how much I love you two & the gratitude I have for all you do for Native writers, our stories, our communities & our children! It was an honor to have you join us and share your knowledge, experience, and beautiful energy!❤️

11/06/2023

We're very much looking forward to our day with the public.

Indigenous writers have the ability to instantly connect us to our identity, land, culture, history, future, values, array of emotions, humor, and our ancestors. They have the power to inspire creativity. They are our messengers who share, advocate, and teach about issues that impact Indigenous communities.

AICHO is excited to host our first ever Indigenous Writer Series. These 6 free and open to the community sessions will span over 13 months. Mark your calendars and join us as we celebrate, lift up, and showcase local and regional Indigenous writers. We are grateful to the McKnight Foundation for funding, and UMD Department of American Indian Studies for co-sponsoring, this series and for their ongoing support.

09/09/2023

If a wolf could talk, what would it say? Would it have a religion? A folk tradition? What are the values of a wolf? And would they be any different

08/21/2023

We'll be at Two Loons in Duluth, MN this upcoming Saturday. Come visit us.

08/09/2023

IMPORTANT NOTE TO PUBLISHED AUTHORS ATTENDING THE INDIGENOUS WRITERS GATHERING SEPTEMBER 8-9 AT FOND DU LAC TRIBAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Bring copies of your books along to sell. We'll have a common table and someone to sell your books for you.

08/08/2023

***THERE IS A WAIT LIST FOR THE INDIGENOUS WRITERS GATHERING SEPTEMBER 8-9TH. IF YOU NO LONGER ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING, PLEASE CONTACT US AT [email protected] OR CALL 218-310-8532 IMMEDIATELY.***

08/01/2023

Our amazing Indigenous Writer's Gathering is shaping up.
You'll find the full schedule of the Indigenous Writers Gathering, September 8-9 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota. We have a wonderful gathering of featured presenters and a number of very talented published Indigenous authors. Authors are encouraged to bring copies of their books to sell. We'll have a sales booth and someone to sell books for you.

07/19/2023

We have a pretty amazing event coming up in September that you'll need to sign on early to reserve a seat. We'll be having a gathering of Indigenous writers the evening of Friday, September 8 and all day Saturday, September 9 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, MN. The event is being sponsored by American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) of Duluth, the North American Sami Center, Holy Cow! Press and Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing. There will be wonderful featured presentations by outstanding Indigenous authors, including several poet laureates, and a gathering of many Indigenous writers and illustrators.

07/06/2023

NEW RELEASE! We have a beautiful new book just out, Little Dandelion, by Rita Bergstein and Elizabeth Albert-Peacock. The story is about a little dandelion, his parents and grandmother, a story within a story about the circle of life. Introduces the Ojibwe story. of South Wind and Dandelion.

06/12/2023

05/27/2023

Introducing our newest book, Little People of the Dawn by Passamaquoddy author Miqnansis Sapiel, illustrated by Minsoss Sapiel-Bobadilla. A beautiful story about a young girl and the little people, set on a Passamaquoddy reserve in northern Maine. Order your copies today.

05/09/2023

Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing will be at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo this coming Saturday, May 13th. Join us with many other Indigenous artists.

05/05/2023

Teresa Peterson lives in Belview, is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and a citizen of the Upper Sioux Community. “Grasshopper Girl” is a children’s book that Peters...

03/19/2023

We are pleased to announce the release of a new, updated version of TO BE FREE by Govinda Budrow, Marlene Wisuri, Ivy Vanio and Thomas Peacock. A middle school book on understanding and dealing with racism, told from an Indigenous perspective. Cover by Karen Savage. Retail price $25

03/19/2023

We are pleased to announce the release of BLACK BEARS AND BLUEBERRIES by Red Cliff tribal member Elizabeth Albert-Peacock, the story of two elder bears who invite their animal friends over for a meal and companionship. Beautifully illustrated by Erin Kant Barnard. Retail price $11.95

03/19/2023

We are pleased to announce the release of THE FOUR HILLS OF LIFE FOR CHILDREN by Red Cliff tribal member Elizabeth Albert-Peacock, written in English and Ojibwemowin (translations by Manido Maaingan). A traditional story of the seasons of life told through the four hills, Spring (Babies), Summer (Youth), Fall (Adulthood) and Winter (Elders), each with its own challenges and responsibilities. Beautifully illustrated by Anna Granholm. Retail price $16.95

03/19/2023

We are pleased to announce the release of ZAAGI AND MISAABEKWE by Fond du Lac tribal member Allie Tibbetts, illustrated by Grand Portage direct descendant Sam Zimmerman. The story of Zaagi, who must deal with turmoil in her community. She meets Misaaabekwe (giant female), who helps her understand and deal with it. Retail $11.95