June Book Club: Five Little Indians (National Indigenous History Month)

For June, in honour of National Indigenous History Month, our book club chose one of the most impactful books we have ever read:

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.

This book was recommended to us by Indigenous people we know in nearby communities, and to this day, it remains one of my personal favourites from our entire book club history.

A Difficult but Essential Read

This was not an easy book to read, but it was an incredibly important one.

Five Little Indians follows five Indigenous survivors of Canada’s residential school system as they navigate life in the years after leaving school, carrying trauma, grief, resilience, and the lasting effects of what was taken from them.

What the book makes so clear is that the impact of residential schools did not end when children left those doors. The harm rippled outward, shaping families and communities for generations, and continues to be felt today.

It is a devastating part of Canadian history, and one that we all need to understand.

Did you know the last federally run residential school in Canada closed in 1996? That is not ancient history. That is within the lifetime of so many Canadians.

A Smaller, More Intimate Gathering

This meeting was a smaller group, which made it feel especially intimate and reflective. The discussion was deeply meaningful, and everyone came to the table with care and openness.

The hosts did an absolutely incredible job creating a thoughtful evening that honoured the spirit of the month.

They sourced beautiful items made by local Indigenous artists, including a handmade scrunchie as a gift, and our craft for the night was to make our own sage bundles, which felt both grounding and special.

A Meal Full of Meaning

The food was equally intentional and memorable:

• Bison burgers, rich and delicious

• A Three Sisters salad inspired by the traditional planting of corn, beans, and squash, foods that represent sustenance, balance, and interconnectedness

• Warm tea, homemade bannock, and local jam

Every detail was so carefully chosen, and it made the evening feel heartfelt and respectful.

A Book That Stays With You

Our discussion that night was one of the best we have ever had. We all agreed on the importance of this book, not only as a novel, but as a powerful reminder of history, survival, and the lasting need for truth and reconciliation.

Five Little Indians is the kind of book that stays with you.

And I am so grateful we read it together.