Joanne Robertson facts for kids

Joanne Robertson, also known by her Ojibway name Misko Anungo Kwe (which means Red Star Woman), is an amazing Anishinaabe author, artist, and activist who works hard to protect water. She is a member of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek community and belongs to the Bald Eagle clan.

Education and Early Work

Joanne Robertson studied art and earned a degree from Algoma University. While she was a student, she started an important environmental project called The Empty Glass for Water Campaign.

The Empty Glass for Water Campaign

This campaign began in 2009 because many First Nations communities in Canada did not have safe drinking water. Joanne wanted to help. Her campaign had two main parts:

• People would send an empty glass of water to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. They would also include a letter explaining why clean water was so important.
• The campaign also focused on the power of prayer to help protect water.

Joanne even made a short film about this project called Glass Action.

Other Film Projects

In 2011, Joanne helped create another film called Paquataskimik is Home. This film showed what traditional Indigenous life was like along the Albany River. It helped people learn about the history and culture of the land.

Current Projects

Today, Joanne is a coordinator for the Mother Earth Water Walkers. This group walks long distances to raise awareness about protecting water. She has also written a children's book about the group's founder, Josephine Mandamin. Joanne is also involved with the ArtSpeaks Project in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This project uses art to help people who have experienced difficult times.

Books for Young Readers

Joanne Robertson is well-known for her wonderful children's books that teach us about the importance of water.

The Water Walker

In September 2017, Joanne released her children's book titled The Water Walker. It was published by Second Story Press. The book tells the inspiring story of Josephine Mandamin, an Elder who walked thousands of miles to protect Nibi, which is the Ojibwe word for water.

The book also includes an Ojibwe vocabulary section. This helps readers learn new words and understand the Anishinaabe way of seeing the world. Joanne not only wrote the book but also created all the illustrations! She started writing it after she met Josephine during a water walk in 2011. The book's main goal is to keep Josephine's important message alive, especially after Josephine became ill and could no longer do the water walks herself.

In 2019, a special version of The Water Walker was published. It was a dual-language edition, meaning it was written in both English and Ojibwe. Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse helped translate the book into Ojibwe.

Awards for The Water Walker

The Water Walker has received several awards and recognitions:

• Finalist for Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer, Indigenous Voices Awards (2019).
• Indigenous Literature Award, Periodical Marketers of Canada and First Nation Communities Read (2018).
• Shortlisted for Most Significant Work of Prose in English by an Emerging Indigenous Writer, Indigenous Voices Awards (2018).
• Listed as a Best Bet in the Junior Non-Fiction category by the Ontario Library Association (2018).
• Included on the Quill & Quire Books of the Year List (2017).

Nibi Is Water and Water Is Life

In 2020, Joanne published another book with Second Story Press called Nibi Is Water and Water Is Life. This board book is for very young children and is also written in both English and Anishinaabemowin. It teaches kids about the many ways we use and interact with water every day.