A Métis Family’s Story Comes to Life for Young Readers

“There’s a little piece of me in everything I write,” says Pat Skene as she shares the inspiration behind her new children’s book, One Beaded Earring. Released in the fall of 2025, the story is a personal and heartfelt tale for young readers about identity, memory, and learning to see yourself clearly.

 

One Beaded Earring follows Delia, a young girl who admires her mom’s long beaded earrings—strands that shimmer like waterfalls. When Delia wears them to school to impress her friends, one earring slips down a bathroom drain. Upset, she confides in her grandmother, who reveals that the earrings were made to honour her mom’s Métis citizenship. From there, Delia begins a journey of understanding, reflection, and self-expression.

 

“This story started with me thinking about my granddaughter,” Pat says. “I imagined what it would be like for a young girl to discover who she is and how powerful that moment can be.” In the book, Grandma Jo gently guides Delia as she starts to understand her Métis roots and the deeper meaning behind the lost earring.

 

“Grandma Jo is very much based on me,” Pat explains. “There was a time when I didn’t fully claim my Métis background. When I finally did, everything made sense. That feeling of belonging is something I want young readers to experience too.”

 

The book is filled with personal touches. Each chapter opens with an illustration of a quill box from Pat’s own collection. Readers will also spot images tied to her life: the Gereaux Island Lighthouse on Georgian Bay, cared for by her family for generations.

 

Métis illustrator, Natalie Lauren, drew heavily from Pat’s family photographs to bring these moments to life. “This project is a true collaboration,” Pat says. “René Laurin, MNO Métis Languages Specialist, supported the Michif language elements. The Orca Book Publishers team worked closely with me to shape the story into something that reflects the Métis spirit.”

 

For Pat, staying true to the story’s roots mattered. “We lost so much over generations. Seeing Métis stories in children’s literature helps change that. It encourages kids to be proud of who they are.”

 

Pat hopes readers of all backgrounds connect with Delia’s journey. “It’s about finding who you are and being proud of it. You don’t have to feel ‘less than.’ You don’t have to stay silent.”

 

Now available to young readers and families, One Beaded Earring offers a celebration of identity, a gentle lesson in accountability, and a tribute to the quiet strength of knowing where you come from.