Book review: Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story
Trigger warning: readers may be triggered by the subject matter of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.
Reviewed by Alex Hebert
Written and illustrated by Joanne Robertson, who also wrote The Water Walker, this new book, Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story, is engaging, educational, and emotional.
This is Shirley (Fletcher) Horn’s true story. She is now 84 years old.
Five-year-old Shirley is taken away from her family in Moose Factory by an Indian agent to live first at St. John’s Indian Residential School, and then Shingwauk Indian Residential School. There is no one she loves to hold her at night when she is afraid.
Even her younger brother at age three was put into the chicken coop because there wasn’t enough staff to supervise. In Shirley’s words: “I don’t know what they did with my little brother when it rained” was heartbreaking. There were many harsh realities in this book that were difficult to read.
It was also hard to read about the abuse and that occurred at school and then at home in the summer when older siblings would practice what they learned at school. Horrifying. Shirley says: “I was fortunate. I didn’t have to deal with any abuse at home. My dark stories were all born and lived at school.”
Shirley also talks about escaping – twice! The punishment was having her hair chopped off and confined to the building for a month.
Shirley left the school when she was 15. Hard to believe that she survived ten years in that place. I admire the fact that she went onto attend and get a Fine Arts Degree from Algoma University. Glad that her childhood experience didn’t destroy her passion for learning.
She says in the epilogue: Today, I have chosen to share my story in the hopes that others may do the same in helping their healing journey. I have also made peace with my past and have forgiven others along the way. I have celebrated with those who have been my helpmates and friends and, especially, my family. All in the spirit of love and true reconciliation. She also says of the book, “It may negatively impact your understanding of Canada, but learning the truth is important. The trauma affects generations, and it will take many years for healing and reconciliation to happen”.
Author Joanne Robertson met Shirley at University. She says that she hopes that Shirley’s story makes you curious to seek out more information about this dark side of Canada’s history and the brave children who survived it.
The illustrations are very cool – Joanne’s illustrations are superimposed over archival photos from the Shingwauk Indian Residential School. Very interesting way to tell the story. Joanne Robertson is Anishinaabekwe from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, and a graduate of Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig.
Shirley (Fletcher) Horn is the former Chief of Missanabie Cree First Nation and the first chancellor of Algoma University. She helped create the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association and the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit.
Joanne Robertson with Shirley (Fletcher) Horn, Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2026.
ISBN 978-1-77260-454-2