Inuvialuit Children's Books

BESSIE ANDREASON (STORYTELLER), JOHN MANTHA (ILLUSTRATION), BEVERLY AMOS (SIGLITUN), CHARLES ARNOLD (EDITOR), PEGGY JAY (COORDINATOR), CATHY COCKNEY (COORDINATOR)

Based on a real-life experience that took place outside of Kugluktuk in 1937, Bessie Andreason was only fourteen years old when she had to fight to stay alive in some of the darkest times of her adolescence. Her story emotionally captivates readers and brings them close to the heart of unbearable loss, struggle, and resilience, alongside Mantha's wistful yet hopeful illustrations. This storybook also includes occcasional Sallirmiutun vocabulary along with a small glossary which can help you teach your child some Inuvialuktun words from 'parka', to 'dogs', and even 'binoculars'.

JOHNNY RUBEN QUMMANA (STORYTELLER); FLORENCE NASOGALUAK (ENGLISH TRANSLATION); JOHN MANTHA (ILLUSTRATION)

Qattayana is a powerful story about how a young boy and his grandmother saved an entire region of people in Nuvuraq after being closed up in an iglu— and left to die. This story of the daring duo giving back with kindness despite having been abandoned is a valuable lesson for us all to learn, and reminds us to never underestimate the abilities of Elders and youth!

JIM KAKIANAAN WOLKI (STORYTELLER), BEVERLY AMOS (DESIGN, LAYOUT AND SIGLITUN TRANSLATION), ROBERTA MEMOGANA (ILLUSTRATION)

Wolki makes it clear that this story is not an unipkaaq (legend)—but rather a quliaq (true life experience). Taking place in Ikaariaq (Banks Island) at Lennie River, we meet Geddes, a nine-year-old boy who gets stuck out in the trapline during a piqtuq (big storm) with his ataatak (grandfather) Inuałuuyaq. Will they be able to stay alive and warm in the face of the harsh elements, and will they be found?

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Copies of children's books are free for beneficiaries of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (IFA), available at the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre (ICRC).