Teacher Sparks Joy with Indigenous Book Drive

Scott Olsen, a teacher at Memorial Composite High School near Edmonton and a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, initiated the "Indigenous Books for Indigenous Kids" program. This project was inspired by his mother's journey as a Sixties Scoop survivor and her reflections on how Indigenous literature might have impacted her youth.

In April, Olsen's outreach to Indigenous authors resulted in approximately 350 book donations. These books were made available to students at his school, many of whom attend from Paul First Nation. The response from students was enthusiastic, with some taking multiple books.

Authors and publishers readily supported the initiative. Stephanie Sinclair of Penguin Random House Canada and author Shane Hawk were among those who contributed signed copies and anthologies. Hawk, a high school teacher himself, donated 25 signed copies of "Never Whistle at Night" despite incurring significant shipping costs.

Olsen, who personally overcame dropping out of high school to pursue advanced degrees, sees books as a way to mend relationships with the education system. He now plans to expand the project, seeking grants to provide 1,200 books next year and continue his mission of representation.