THE CLASSROOM

We didn’t celebrate birthdays. But the day I was old enough, I finally got to go to class. No more treks down the road to the minister’s house. No more afternoons tied to the bed.

I loved learning. Being in the classroom took away some of the loneliness of being by myself all the time.

Even though there were so many children, we were all still lonely. I could see my siblings when I went to church and at mealtimes, but I was never allowed to speak with them. All the time, all together, all lonely.

“The Classroom.” Photos: Joanne Robertson. Moose Cree (L-Dialect) translation: VernCheechoo and Lawrence Jeffries.

THE PRECIOUS GIFT

I don’t have my Cree language. I wasn’t surrounded by it at home, and it was banned at school. My grandfather was forced to obey the Anglican Church’s rules. One of them was no Cree. He made sure my aunties and uncles didn’t speak the language to us.

But they still spoke it to each other in the summer. I heard them from my bedroom at night. The old ones sat around the cookstove, speaking softly to each other.

I listened intently, pretending to be asleep. It was a precious gift. Their voices surrounded me like a cozy blanket and lulled me to sleep.

“The Precious Gift.” Photos: Joanne Robertson. Moose Cree (L-Dialect) translation: VernCheechoo and Lawrence Jeffries.

Joanne Robertson is Anishinaabe kwe and a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig. Robertson is the author and illustrator of The Water Walker/Nibi Emosaawdang and Nibi is Water/ nibi aawon nbiish. 

Shirley (Fletcher) Horn attended St. John’s Indian Residential School, Shingwauk Indian Residential School, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, and Algoma University, where she was the first chancellor. She is also an accomplished artist. She is most proud of her work helping to create the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association and the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit. Horn served as Chief for her community, Missanabie Cree First Nation, for six years. 

l to r: Joanne Robertson and Shirley Horn (Credit: Gary McGuffin).

Excerpted from Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story (2026) with permission from Second Story Press. Written and illustrated by Joanne Robertson with Shirley (Fletcher) Horn. 

Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story publishes on February 10.