Joanne Robertson
{{Short description|Anishinaabe author, illustrator and water protection activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joanne Robertson
| native_name = Misko Anungo Kwe (Red Star Woman)
| native_name_lang = Ojibway
| nationality = Canadian, Annishinaabe
| alma_mater = Algoma University
| occupation = Author
| notable_works = The Water Walker (2017)
}}
Joanne Robertson Misko Anungo Kwe (Red Star Woman) is an Anishinaabe author, illustrator, and water protection activist. Joanne is a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and is of the Bald Eagle clan.
Education and career
Robertson graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Algoma University and Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig.{{Cite web|url=https://thewordonthestreet.ca/toronto/festival/participants/joanne-robertson/|title=Joanne Robertson|website=thewordonthestreet.ca|access-date=2018-03-14}}
During her time as a student, Robertson started an environmental project known as The Empty Glass for Water Campaign. The campaign began as a response to the drinking water crisis facing First Nations communities in the spring of 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://saultonline.com/2018/03/the-water-walker-a-book-inspired-by-nibi/|title='The Water Walker'. A Book inspired by Nibi {{!}} SaultOnline.com|last=Brown|first=Lynne|website=saultonline.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2018-05-24}} The Campaign has a two-step action, one involving participants mailing an empty glass of water to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a letter outlining the need for action and the other focusing on the connection between prayer and water protection.{{Cite web|url=http://www.emptyglassforwater.ca/nyk/?page_id=313|title=Take Action « EG4W – Empty Glass For Water|website=www.emptyglassforwater.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-14}} She produced a short film about the Campaign called Glass Action.
In 2011, Robertson produced the Paquataskimik is Home film as part of the Paquataskimik Project created by the NORDIK Institute. The film documented traditional Indigenous life along the Albany River.{{Cite news|url=http://nationtalk.ca/story/paquataskamik-is-home-debuts-in-timmins|title="Paquataskamik is Home" Debuts in Timmins|work=NationTalk|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en-US}}
Robertson is currently a walk coordinator for the Mother Earth Water Walkers and has written a children's book about the organization's founder, Josephine Mandamin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/local-author-wins-indigenous-literature-award-968551|title=Local author wins Indigenous Literature Award|work=SooToday.com|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en}} She is also currently involved with the ArtSpeaks Project, a Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario initiative which utilizes an arts-based practice to work with trauma survivors.{{Cite web|url=http://theartspeaksproject.org/about.html|title=About|website=The ArtSpeaks Project|language=en|access-date=2018-03-15}}
Literary works
Robertson released a children's book in September 2017 titled The Water Walker published by Second Story Press. The book follows the journey of Josephine Mandamin to protect Nibi (water). The book includes an Ojibwe vocabulary and pronunciation page to help readers contextualize the Anishinaabe worldview. Robertson both wrote and illustrated the book.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-students-learn-about-clean-water-from-new-indigenous-children-s-book-1.4386036|title=New Indigenous children's book teaches kids about the importance of clean water {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}} She began writing the book after coordinating the four directions walk in 2011 and meeting Josephine. The book was originally an entry into an indigenous writers competition that Robertson did not win, however the company was impressed and still offered her a publishing contract.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-students-learn-about-clean-water-from-new-indigenous-children-s-book-1.4386036|title=New Indigenous children's book teaches kids about the importance of clean water|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-03-14|language=en}} Robertson has noted that the book's purpose is to continue spreading Josephine's message after she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and unable to continue with future water walks. In September 2019 a dual language edition of The Water Walker was published, with translation into Ojibwe done by Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse.{{Cite web|url=https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/nibi-emosaawdang-/-the-water-walker|title=Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker|website=Second Story Press|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-05}}
= Awards for ''The Water Walker'' =
- Finalist, Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer, Indigenous Voices Awards (2019).{{Cite web|url=http://www.indigenousliterarystudies.org/indigenous-voices-awards-winners|title=Indigenous Voices Awards Winners|website=Indigenous Literary Studies Association|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-23}}
- Indigenous Literature Award, Periodical Marketers of Canada and First Nation Communities Read (2018).{{Cite news|url=https://quillandquire.com/omni/tanya-talaga-joanne-robertson-win-indigenous-literature-award/|title=Tanya Talaga, Joanne Robertson win Indigenous Literature Award {{!}} Quill and Quire|date=2018-06-18|work=Quill and Quire|access-date=2018-07-05}}
- Short listed, Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer, Indigenous Voices Awards (2018).{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/books/indigenous-voices-awards-which-recognizes-emerging-indigenous-writers-reveal-2018-finalists-1.4668754|title=Indigenous Voices Awards, which recognize emerging Indigenous writers, reveal 2018 finalists {{!}} CBC Books|work=CBC|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}
- Ontario Library Association, Best Bets in the Junior Non-Fiction category (2018).{{Cite web|url=https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker|title=The Water Walker|website=Second Story Press|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-14|archive-date=2018-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315134010/https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker|url-status=dead}}
- Listed on the Quill & Quire Books of the Year List, Bookseller's kidlit, selected by A Different Booklist (2017){{Cite news|url=https://quillandquire.com/omni/2017-books-of-the-year-librarians-book-bloggers-and-booksellers-kidlit-and-ya-picks/|title=2017 Books of the Year: Librarians', book bloggers', and booksellers' kidlit and YA picks {{!}} Quill and Quire|date=2017-12-12|work=Quill and Quire|access-date=2018-03-28}}
In 2020 Robertson published Nibi Is Water and Water Is Life with Second Story Press. This board book, aimed at young children is in both English and Anishinaabemowin{{Cite web|url=https://www.colorlines.com/articles/colorlinesreads-28-books-were-excited-spring|title=#ColorLinesReads: 28 Books We're Excited for This Spring|date=2020-03-02|website=www.ColorLines.com|language=en|access-date=2020-03-05}} The book talks about the ways children use and interact with water.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker The Water Walker on Second Story Press] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315134010/https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/the-water-walker |date=2018-03-15 }}
- [http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/ The Mother Earth Water Walks]
- [http://www.emptyglassforwater.ca/home.php The Empty Glass for Water Campaign]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Joanne}}
Category:Created via preloaddraft
Category:First Nations drawing artists
Category:Canadian women artists
Category:First Nations activists
Category:21st-century Canadian women writers
Category:Algoma University alumni