Jan Bourdeau Waboose is a Nishnawbe Ojibway from Northern Ontario who based SkySisters on her own childhood experiences and her relationship with her older sister.

In her writing, she tries to convey the Indigenous life she sees in her family, friends and community – a larger, fuller picture than the stereotypes prevalent in North American society, she says.

In the late 1960s, Jan began a long-term relationship with the Indian Bands of Ontario, working with them for ten years and eventually heading their child welfare program. Her interest in writing developed in tandem with this organizational work. She has written for many Indigenous magazines and newspapers on issues connected with child welfare. She has also tried to correct inaccurate media portrayals of Indigenous people and Indigenous life. And she has written personal material – stories and poems – which now, increasingly, are being published.