Library Launches Riverside Reads With Sherman Institute Documentary

Riverside Reads kicked off Wednesday night at the Main Library Community room. A panel discussion accompanied a screening of These Aren’t Stories, a documentary film about Indian boarding schools.

The selected work for this year’s Riverside Reads is There There by Tommy Orange. The Pulitzer-nominated novel tells the stories of twelve Native Americans on different journeys to the same Pow Wow. The novel is available at no cost at your local Riverside library branch. Readers are encouraged to engage in an organized civic discussion on the personal, social, and political themes presented in the book. 

Riverside, home to Sherman Indian High School, has a unique role in the history of Indigenous people. Sherman is a Federal government-operated boarding school for Native students. The Museum of Riverside secured a Covid-era endowment to create the film on the complex history of Sherman and the broader institution of Indian boarding schools.

Riverside Reads is a month-long event. Grab There There, give it a read, check out the schedule, and make some time to participate in these events.