Who We Are

Strong Nations is an Indigenous owned and operated publishing house and online bookstore located in Nanaimo on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Since 2010 we have created and facilitated the acquisition of authentic Indigenous resources with the aim of developing a deeper understanding of Indigenous Peoples, cultures, and rights among all people.

We embrace the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the heart of Strong Nations is our commitment to Indigenous Peoples, the advancement of reconciliation, and the natural environment that sustains us all.

We believe that education plays a central role in reconciliation by transforming beliefs. It is our mission to create authentic Indigenous literature and additional learning resources for use in schools, community organizations, and homes. It is essential that Indigenous children see themselves reflected in teaching/learning materials and that all children learn about Indigenous cultures. In addition, we publish titles that focus on the natural environment with the aim of promoting the preservation and protection of Mother Earth. At Strong Nations, we hope that all people feel empowered by the materials we create.

We also select resources from other sources that support learning about Indigenous cultures, Indigenous ways of being, and Indigenous knowledge and make them available via our online bookstore.

We work to ensure that Indigenous voices are expressed with integrity and cultural authenticity. We are proud to say that all Strong Nations’ resources are printed in Canada.

More About Strong Nations Products and Services

Strong Nations offers services in two areas: publishing and bookselling.

Our publishing team works to produce Indigenous children’s books and additional learning resources that support and uplift Indigenous teachings. We specialize in the publication of educational resources, including a guided reading series, teaching guides for educators, and a variety of materials for the learning environment (bulletin board trimmers, posters, plant identification cards, stamps, and card games). We provide translation packages for many of our titles to help with community language revitalization. We are committed to the development, promotion, and publication of Indigenous writers and artists.

Our bookstore offers a curated collection of works by Indigenous authors and illustrators for children, adolescents, and adults. It contains thousands of titles and includes everything from traditional and contemporary Indigenous stories to the latest educational resources that help facilitate the use of Indigenous works in the classroom. Additionally, we offer a large selection of giftware and other cultural products from Indigenous artists and makers.

It is with commitment and passion that Strong Nations continues to both source and produce authentic Indigenous resources, as well as resources created by non-Indigenous people that connect to Indigenous teachings and cultures for classrooms, organizations, and homes.

We look forward to connecting with you!