Shi-shi-etko

Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell is the story of a girl who in four days time must leave her family to attend residential school. We follow Shi-shi-etko as she soaks up all of the beauty and wonder of her home and her family so she can fill herself up until she is able to return home again.
As an adult, reading this book is heart wrenching since we know where and what will potentially become of Shi-shi-etko. However, for our children, it provides a beautiful outlet to discuss family, favourite places and people, and why these things are so important to us. The lyrical text by Nicola I. Campbell and the rich and liquid illustrations by Kim LaFave are completely welcoming, drawing you into the story from page one. As with many books show more about the topic of residential schools, there is a perfect note from the author at the beginning to help lead a discussion with the younger generation about Residential School and the inherent problems with the system. I would share this picture book with preschool children and older.
This critically-acclaimed book is published by Groundwood Books. Shi-shi-etko is another fantastic book for every child. show less

A heart-breaking picture book, lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, Shi-shi-etko relates the story of a young girl's last four days at home, before her enforced separation from her family at one of Canada's residential schools for Native children. Rather than focusing on the residential school experience itself, Campbell (who is of Interior Salish & Metis ancestry) chooses to locate her narrative in the days leading up to the departure, emphasizing the family love and warmth that surround Shi-Shi-etko ("She loves to play in the water"), and the truly violent and traumatic nature of her separation from all that she knows.

Accompanied by LaFave's luminous, dream-like illustrations, Campbell's poignant narrative would make an show more excellent springboard for elementary teachers looking to explain this very disturbing aspect of the indigenous experience to young students. Although set in Canada, it has just as much relevance for students of U.S. history, where similar institutions flourished. show less

In just four days young Shi-shi-etko will have to leave her family and all that she knows to attend residential school.
She spends her last days at home treasuring the beauty of her world -- the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather's paddle song. Her mother, father and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. And so Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.
Richly hued illustrations complement this gently moving and poetic account of a child who finds solace all around her, even though she is on the verge of great loss -- a loss that Indigenous Peoples have endured for generations because of the residential schools system.

Shi-shi-etko follows a young Indigenous girl during her last days at home before being sent to residential school. She spends her time learning from her family and observing the land, taking in the songs, stories, and traditions around her. Every sight, sound, and lesson is carefully remembered as she prepares to leave. The story concludes with her offering tobacco to Grandfather Tree and a prayer that her memories and family are kept safe while she is away.

This book is about a young Native girl who is about to be sent away to residential school. What I liked about this book is it mentions some of the hardships of Natives but that is not the highlight of the book, it focuses on Native joy which I think is important. She goes through this goodbye process with her family and the land. I would say that this book would be good for middle elementary school classrooms. Depending on maturity of the class it would be beneficial to have a conversation with the class about residential schools.

A beautiful and gentle way to introduce the concept of residential schools. Touches on topics of indigenous culture such as connection to land, and tobacco as offerings.

I didn’t know much about residential schools before reading this book. Residential schools are no longer around, but it still sad to read that children were forced away from their families. The author’s note at the start even states that it will be many generations before the native people will recover from the effects of this forced government schooling. Shi-shi-etko does such a beautiful job of taking in everything around her before she must leave though. Instead of spending the last few days and nights in sadness, she makes the most of the time she has. This book could be used for studies of the history of Indians of North America.