a stranger at home by Christy-Jordan Fenton and Margaret-Pokiak Fenton

A Stranger At Home tells the story of Margaret as she returns home after two years at Residential school. In a stark contrast to the expected open arms and warmth from her family, her mother instead refuses to believe that Margaret is her daughter. Upon returning home, Margaret is forced to relearn the language and beliefs of her family and reconcile them with what she was taught at Residential school. This story sheds light on the experiences of children attempting to re-assimilate into their Indigenous culture after Residential school and the trauma that families faced even after their children had returned.

Margaret Pokiak-Fenton was the inspiration for the character of Margaret in the book. Pokiak-Fenton attended Residential school at the age of eight and like the character in the story, struggled to reconnect to her family and her Indigenous culture. Her and her stepdaughter, Christy Jordan-Fenton, wrote A Stranger At Home together with the aim to encourage Indigenous children to believe in themselves.