Truth & Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, and Residential Schools: Books for Kids up to Age 12 (VPL) | Vancouver Public Library

by Webstad, Phyllis

Book - 2023

Written for residential school Survivors, and intergenerational survivors, this is a beautiful and empowering picture book by Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad. Recommended for ages 4 - 8. Written for residential school Survivors, and intergenerational survivors, this is a beautiful and empowering picture book by Orange Shirt Day founder, Phyllis Webstad. Recommended for ages 4 - 8. Show less

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When We Were Alone

by Robertson, David

Book - 2016

A young girl asks her grandmother about her clothing, hairstyle and the Cree language she speaks. She is told about life in a residential school, where ev...Show more A young girl asks her grandmother about her clothing, hairstyle and the Cree language she speaks. She is told about life in a residential school, where everything was taken away. This sensitively-told and beautifully-illustrated story is an opportunity to discuss the importance of culture, of quiet resistance, and of ways to move toward reconciliation. Recommended for ages 4-8. Show less

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White Raven

by Spathelfer, Teoni

Book - 2021

Through simple, heartfelt text and vivid illustrations that combine contemporary and traditional Indigenous motifs, White Raven is an engaging teaching to...Show more Through simple, heartfelt text and vivid illustrations that combine contemporary and traditional Indigenous motifs, White Raven is an engaging teaching tool as well as a relatable narrative about the impact of intergenerational trauma on families. Based on the author's own life and her mother's residential school experience, the central message of this book is one of healing and family unity. Recommended for ages 4-8. Show less

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When I Was Eight

by Jordan-Fenton, Christy

Book - 2013

When Olemaun goes to mission school, she thinks she will learn how to read. But when she gets there, the nuns cut off her hair, call her by a different na...Show more When Olemaun goes to mission school, she thinks she will learn how to read. But when she gets there, the nuns cut off her hair, call her by a different name, and treat her and the other Inuit children with callousness and cruelty. Even so, her spirit is not broken, and she persists in her goal. A picture book adaptation of the memoir "Fatty Legs" by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. The equally powerful companion book "Not My Girl" is a picture-book adaptation of the author's memoir "A Stranger At Home" and tells the story of Olemaun's return from residential school. Both titles recommended for ages 5-9. Show less

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Stolen Words

by Florence, Melanie

Book - 2017

A young girl re-introduces her beloved grandfather to their shared language after learning that his Cree words were stolen from him when he went to reside...Show more A young girl re-introduces her beloved grandfather to their shared language after learning that his Cree words were stolen from him when he went to residential school. A simple but powerful story, written in English and Cree. Recommended for ages 5-9. Show less

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Shi-shi-etko

by Campbell, Nicola I.

Book - 2005

Follow the story of young Shi-shi-etko and her brother, Shin-chi, as they leave their family to attend residential school. Poetic and nuanced, this title ...Show more Follow the story of young Shi-shi-etko and her brother, Shin-chi, as they leave their family to attend residential school. Poetic and nuanced, this title and its companion book "Shin-Chi's Canoe" balance the beauty of their world with the great loss they experience. Recommended for ages 4-8. Show less

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The Orange Shirt Story

by Webstad, Phyllis

Book - 2018

The author's grandmother gave her a shiny new orange shirt which she wore on her first day attending St.Joseph Mission Residential School as a six year ol...Show more The author's grandmother gave her a shiny new orange shirt which she wore on her first day attending St.Joseph Mission Residential School as a six year old child. Webstad recalls the heartbreak and bewilderment of being stripped of this beloved gift, never to see it again. Orange Shirt Day became a national movement to acknowledge the experience of residential school children and witness to the healing stories of many survivors who lived through the anguish and loss of their childhood and family identity in this dark chapter of Canadian history. Recommended for ages 6-9. Show less

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These Are My Words

The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens

by Slipperjack, Ruby

Book - 2016

Violet is in grade five when she begins to write in her diary about the sadness and loneliness of residential school in Northern Ontario, 1966. Letters to...Show more Violet is in grade five when she begins to write in her diary about the sadness and loneliness of residential school in Northern Ontario, 1966. Letters to and from her Grandma and mother fill in the narrative as she makes sense of strange surroundings and the expectations of school lessons, chores and animosity. Loosely based on Ruby Slipperjack’s own childhood experiences. Show less

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Speaking Our Truth

A Journey of Reconciliation

by Gray Smith, Monique

Book - 2017

Monique Gray Smith explores the topic of the residential school system, its impacts, and paths to allyship and reconciliation in this approachable nonfict...Show more Monique Gray Smith explores the topic of the residential school system, its impacts, and paths to allyship and reconciliation in this approachable nonfiction book. Smith grounds her work with context, while retaining interest with photos and illustrations, along with text boxes to explain complex terms and ideas, and gives the topic a human face with stories of adults and children who have been affected by the residential school system in a variety of ways. Recommended for ages 8-12. Show less

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The Secret Pocket

by Janicki, Peggy

Book - 2023

Based on the author's mother's experience at residential school, "The Secret Pocket" is a story of survival and resilience in the face of genoci...Show more Based on the author's mother's experience at residential school, "The Secret Pocket" is a story of survival and resilience in the face of genocide and cruelty. But it's also a celebration of quiet resistance to the injustice of residential schools and how the sewing skills passed down through generations of Indigenous women gave these girls a future, stitch by stitch. Recommended for ages 6-9. Show less

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I Am Not A Number

by Dupuis, Jenny Kay

Book - 2016

When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She...Show more When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from despite the efforts of the nuns to force her to do otherwise. Based on the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis' own grandmother, this picture book brings a terrible part of Canada's history to light in a way that children can learn from and relate to. Recommended for ages 7-11. Show less

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As Long as the Rivers Flow

by Loyie, Larry

Book - 2002

This poignant story tells of a ten-year-old boy’s last summer with his Cree community before being sent to residential school. It is a summer of learning ...Show more This poignant story tells of a ten-year-old boy’s last summer with his Cree community before being sent to residential school. It is a summer of learning and adventure as Lawrence cares for an abandoned baby owl, learns to sew winter moccasins from his grandmother, picks berries and medicinal plants with his family, and even has a dramatic encounter with a giant grizzly bear. The looming prospect of residential school, foreshadowed early in the book, brings a bittersweet quality to the joyous events of summer, which are based on the author’s own experiences. Expressive watercolour illustrations beautifully depict the settings and events. Recommended for ages 8-11. Show less

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Fatty Legs

A True Story

by Jordan-Fenton, Christy

Book - 2010

Eight-year-old Margaret Pokiak wants to learn to read but she will have to leave her village in the high Arctic. Her father finally agrees but warns Marga...Show more Eight-year-old Margaret Pokiak wants to learn to read but she will have to leave her village in the high Arctic. Her father finally agrees but warns Margaret of the terrors of residential schools. Margaret encounters the Raven, a black-cloaked nun with a hooked nose and bony fingers that resemble claws. She immediately dislikes the strong-willed young Margaret. Intending to humiliate her, the Raven gives gray stockings to all the girls -- all except Margaret, who gets red ones. Margaret is the laughingstock of the entire school. In the end it is this brave young girl who gives the Raven a lesson in the power of human dignity. Complemented by archival photos from Margaret Pokiak-Fenton's collection and striking artworks from Liz Amini-Holmes, this inspiring first-person account of a plucky girl's determination to confront her tormentor will linger with young readers. Recommended for ages 8-12. Show less

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A Stranger at Home

A True Story

by Jordan-Fenton, Christy

Book - 2011

When 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak is reunited with her family after two years at mission school, she can hardly contain her excitement. Coming ashore, Marg...Show more When 10-year-old Margaret Pokiak is reunited with her family after two years at mission school, she can hardly contain her excitement. Coming ashore, Margaret spots her family, but her mother barely recognizes her, crying, "Not my girl." Margaret realizes she is now marked as an outsider: she has forgotten the language and stories of her people, and she can't even stomach the food her mother prepares. As Margaret gradually relearns her language and her family's way of living, she discovers how important it is to remain true to the ways of her people--and to herself. Highlighted by archival photos and striking artwork, this first-person account of a young girl's struggle to find her place will inspire young readers to ask what it means to belong. Recommended for ages 8-12. Show less

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When We Play Our Drums, They Sing!

Tłįcǫ Translation : Eye Ts'ehxà Nid̨è, Gedzį

by Van Camp, Richard

Book - 2018

Monique Gray Smith and Richard Van Camp weave together two stories of reconciliation and what it means to the children of residential school survivors. In...Show more Monique Gray Smith and Richard Van Camp weave together two stories of reconciliation and what it means to the children of residential school survivors. In "When We Play Our Drums, They Sing!" Dene Cho starts his journey with a challenge to learn as much as he can of his past, while in "Lucy and Lola," two sisters learn to how live in the ways of their Elders in this compelling and insightful novella illustrated by Julie Flett. Recommended for ages 8-12. Show less

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My Name Is Seepeetza

by Sterling, Shirley

Book - 1992

Written in diary form, Sterling's classic tells the story of Seepeetza, a resilient inter-generational residential school Survivor. In the words of a twel...Show more Written in diary form, Sterling's classic tells the story of Seepeetza, a resilient inter-generational residential school Survivor. In the words of a twelve year-old child, Seepeetza tells us of her own and others' experiences: of being scared all the time, of the trauma of being forced to shed her indigenous identity, and of the need to leave a record of her own existence. Thoughtfully written, this book addresses big issues such as child abuse, alcoholism, and suicide while also celebrating Seepeetza's spirited determination to enjoy family, friends, and her way of life. Recommended for ages 9-12. Show less

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The Witness Blanket

Truth, Art and Reconciliation

by Newman, Carey

Book - 2022

Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art—a collection of hundreds...Show more Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art—a collection of hundreds of objects from those schools. It includes everything from photos, bricks, hockey skates, graduation certificates, dolls and piano keys to braids of hair. Behind every piece is a story. And behind every story is a residential school Survivor, including Carey's father. This book is a collection of truths about what happened at those schools, but it's also a beacon of hope and a step on the journey toward reconciliation. Recommended for ages 9-12. Show less

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David A. Robertson | Talking About Residential Schools with "When We Were Alone" | YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nD1DozPdt0

Web Resource

Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommends teaching children about residential schools as early as kindergarten, and David A. Robertson shares how to approach this topic using his book "When We Were Alone." Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommends teaching children about residential schools as early as kindergarten, and David A. Robertson shares how to approach this topic using his book "When We Were Alone." Show less

Monique Gray Smith | Talking to kids about Residential Schools | YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebOJ_lMCVvk

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In this video, Monique Gray Smith shares tips on both talking to kids about Residential Schools, but also how to prepare yourself as the adult to have these conversations. In this video, Monique Gray Smith shares tips on both talking to kids about Residential Schools, but also how to prepare yourself as the adult to have these conversations. Show less

Orange Shirt Day | Phyllis (Jack) Webstad

https://www.orangeshirtday.org/phyllis-story.html

Web Resource

Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, the founder of the Orange Shirt movement shares her story in her own words. Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, the founder of the Orange Shirt movement shares her story in her own words. Show less

CBC | 48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools

https://www.cbc.ca/books/48-books-by-indigenous-writers-to-read-to-understand-residential-schools-1.6056204

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David A. Robertson curated this list of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's books, all of which explore the legacy and impact of the residential school system. This list is for both children and adults. David A. Robertson curated this list of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children's books, all of which explore the legacy and impact of the residential school system. This list is for both children and adults. Show less