Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton was an Inuvialuk author, story keeper, and residential school survivor. Born on Baillie Island, NWT, Canada, she spent her early years learning traditional skills like dog-sledding and hunting. At age eight, she attended the Immaculate Conception residential school, an experience that deeply impacted her and later inspired her writing. She co-authored several award-winning children's books with her daughter-in-law, Christy Jordan-Fenton, including "Fatty Legs," which recounts her residential school experiences. Her books aim to educate young readers about the history and trauma of the residential school system and promote understanding and reconciliation. Pokiak-Fenton passed away on April 21, 2021.
Awards
["Best Books for Kids & Teens: Canadian Children's Book Centre", 'Story Telling World Award', 'USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List', "Finalist for the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize", "Named one of the 10 best children's books of the year by the Globe and Mail", "Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books", 'From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books', 'Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist']
Notable Works
['Fatty Legs', 'A Stranger At Home', 'When I Was Eight', 'Not My Girl']
