Hi! We're Well-Read Native.
Our History
Well-Read Native was founded in 2020 by Abigail Jackson Smith (third from left), Allie Redhorse Young (far left), and Kayla Gebeck (not pictured) as a grassroots initiative dedicated to amplifying Indigenous writers and empowering Indigenous readers of all ages through book club and literacy programming. We've since grown into a global community of 5,000+ readers from over 95 tribes and 7 countries (and counting!).
Joined by Haley Jovan Henscheid (second from left) and Camryn Towle (far right), Well-Read Native is now a 501c(3) nonprofit organization working to expand our reach and deepen our impact across our core foundational priorities: elevating Indigenous voices, empowering Native readers and storytellers, and harnessing the power of story for liberation.
Our Mission
We're on a mission to elevate Indigenous voices, celebrate Indigenous creativity, and empower Indigenous people. We're dedicated to leveraging the liberative power of story to help co-create brighter futures—with and for our Native communities.
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Our Vision
The stories we tell—both to others and ourselves—form the pathways by which we understand ourselves, make sense of our lives, and build community. Stories shape our values, beliefs, and identities, and inform how we navigate the world. Stories, and the ability to confidently access and tell our own stories, are everything—and we envision a world in which every Indigenous child and person is armed with their power.
What We're Up To
A Native-led non-profit, Well-Read Native hosts in-person socials and book clubs (both virtual and IRL) with the goal of building a vibrant, inclusive community. Our gatherings honor and uplift the voices of Native and Indigenous authors whose stories deserve to be celebrated and provide an environment where people feel comfortable, seen, and inspired. We are rooted in the belief that we—Native, Indigenous, and non-Indigenous—are stronger together, and deserve liberated spaces of connection, joy, and shared empowerment.
Literature & Liberation
Well-Read Native is currently expanding its Literature & Liberation initiative—bringing Native-authored books, personal development and writing workshops, and literacy programming to incarcerated relatives across Turtle Island. By working with correctional facilities to get Native-authored books directly in the hands of our incarcerated relatives, our goal is to reflect back to them the deep knowledge they carry and the power of their own stories.
What's next?
We’re a small, grassroots group fueled by passion and care for people. Everything we do is about co-creating with our community and helping actualize the events, spaces, and programming people want and need.
Want to learn more about our initiatives? Have an idea for an event you’d love to see? Know a jail, prison, or correctional facility you think we should connect with? Is there a book you’ve been wanting to discuss with others? Please let us know. We’re here to listen, collaborate, and use our resources to help bring your ideas to life.