Buffalo Dreamer

By: Violet Duncan

Narrated by: Ashley Callingbull

An illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history

Summer and her family always spend relaxed summers in Alberta, Canada, on the reservation where her mom’s family lives. But this year is turning out to be an eye-opening one. First, Summer has begun to have vivid dreams in which she's running away from one of the many real-life residential schools that tore Native children from their families and tried to erase their Native identities. Not long after that, she learns that unmarked children’s graves have been discovered at the school her grandpa attended as a child. Now more folks are speaking up about their harrowing experiences at these places, including her grandfather. Summer cherishes her heritage and is heartbroken about all her grandfather was forced to give up and miss out on. When the town holds a rally, she’s proud to take part to acknowledge the painful past and speak of her hopes for the future, and anxious to find someone who can fill her in on the source of her unsettling dreams.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF containing a glossary of words from the book.

Beautiful Story

This short story covers a lot of ground. The issue of residential schools is explored while the reader experiences the rich culture, community and family of indigenous people. Beautifully and lovingly written.

When we tell our own stories.

I love how the author weaved generational understanding and connections. This story reflects the power in telling our own stories. From honoring Buffalo Dreamer, respecting the survivors, the organizing while involving the youth, upholding the power of resistance, and showing the love and our fight for our families was all apart of this story and is what I’m all about. This is necessary in sharing the history of Boarding school with our youth.

Finally a book a Native kid/adult can relate too

Buffalo Dreamer was so relatable, a book that finally speaks to a Native kid/adult like me, a San Carlos Apache member who grew up without fully understanding the boarding school experience. I appreciated how the book wove together past and present, especially since many of my family members, including my grandmother, were sent away to boarding school. Grandma was separated from her little brother where he was sent to an entirely different state, he was her only family, and they were reunited as adults, only to find out that he didn't want to come home because he didn't know what 'home' meant. Native representation in literature is crucial, and I thank Violet Duncan for this book. My young girls and I need more stories like this, and we would be thrilled if Summer's stories became a series. #NativeRepresentationMatters