Shirley Horn & Joanne Robertson – Shirley : An Indian Residential School Story

Shirley is only five years old when she is taken away by the Indian agent to live at a residential school.

She loves learning, but she is not there by choice. From the first day walking up the long, lonely stone steps of the school building, life is hard and full of rules. Separated from her brothers and sisters, she is truly on her own. 

Shirley is very brave, but there is no one she loves to hold her at night when she is afraid. No one to tuck her in and comfort her. Shirley keeps going despite the sadness. She makes friends and has adventures. And most of all, she looks ahead to summertime, when she will be able to return to her family and the happiness of home.

The true story of Shirley Horn, a Cree elder and residential school survivor from Northern Ontario. Co-authored and illustrated by Joanne Robertson, it details Shirley’s experience being taken from her family at age five and her life at the Shingwauk Indian Residential School. The inspiring story of a young girl’s resilience and survival at residential school.

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Joanne Robertson is Anishinaabe kwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She is a graduate of Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Joanne is the author and illustrator of The Water Walker / Nibi Emosaawdang, Nibi is Water, and Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story. She lives north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.