We like to pretend that childhood isn’t as traumatizing as it is for as many children as it is. And what she taught me and countless others is that when we have the courage to revisit the most traumatic parts of our lives, we get the chance to add another chapter, the chapter where we realize we were our own heroes all along. “She was a mother and the best friend I ever had. Her daughter-in-law and co-author, Christy Jordan-Fenton, said: When news of her death broke, many spoke out, including her publisher Annick Press. Her awards include: Best Books for Kids & Teens: Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Story Telling World Award and USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List. Together with her daughter-in-law, Christy Jordan-Fenton, Olemaun went on to publish multiple award-winning books including Fatty Legs, A Stranger At Home (Annick Press, 2011), When I Was Eight (Annick Press,2013), and Not My Girl (Annick Press, 2014). Fatty Legs CoverĪfter the release of Fatty Legs, Margaret (who would later return to her birth name, Olemaun) began to speak about her time at the residential school in an effort to raise awareness of the cruel practices. Together, her and Lyle raised eight children. She became a staple at the local farmer’s market where she would sell beadwork, embroidery, and eventually Fatty Legs. Her strength and resilience would help her navigate the difficult transition.Īs an adult, Margaret-Olemaun met her future husband, Lyle Fenton, while living in Tuktoyaktuk. After returning home, she struggled to communicate with her mother, having been forced to assimilate to non-Native practices. Her award-winning children’s book, Fatty Legs: A True Story (Annick Press, 2010), is a memoir about her time there. Margaret-Olemaun attended the Immaculate Conception residential school for two years. Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton as a young child (photo courtesy of Christy Jordan-Fenton) Her early years were spent with her family learning to dog-sled, hunt, and gather supplies. Pokiak-Fenton was born on Jon Ballie Island. Peek: “Fatty Legs, its sequel A Stranger at Home, and young reader editions When I Was Eight and Not My Girl, have sold more than a quarter of a million copies and collected over 20 awards and distinctions.” Obituary Note: Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton from Shelf Awareness. Peek: “Born on Baillie Island in the Arctic Ocean, the author of Fatty Legs: A True Story, published by Annick Press in 2010, introduced young readers to the devastating reality of residential schools and gave Pokiak-Fenton the opportunity to share her experiences with countless school children.” Remembering Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton, children’s book author and residential school survivor from Quill and Quire. Award-winning children’s book author Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton (Inuvialuit) died on April 21, 2021.

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