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| Author and Story Teller Michael Kusugak C. Davis photos |
For awhile I forgot about the puppies. So, it seems, did many other people. That's how engaging a storyteller Inuit author Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak is. He's all joy. "So you're an author, I take it?" I asked him. "Yep, I wrote all these books," he said, gesturing to voluminous stack on the desk next to him.
To demonstrate the diversity of his distribution, there are many languages represented in the stack. Japanese, French, Inuktitut, Serbian, Korean, English... He was named the winner of the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature in 2008. (wiki) He grew up in Repulse Bay, North West Territories, now known by the more culturally accurate Nunavut. He recently moved to Vancouver Island from Rankin Inlet, Nunuvut, which has increased his access to this part of Canada.
Kusugak's wife Geraldine accompanies him on the tour, sharing the adventure and the driving. At some stops she also provides a hands-on learning experience.
Kusugak was the guest speaker at Canyon School's Library on Monday, February 25. "We're touring around telling stories at schools," he explained.
That's been a good thing for us "down south". He's as fine a storyteller as you will ever hear. He clearly loves his work. As he travels from place to place he also travels seamlessly from story to story.
He kept us hanging over the aforementioned puppies, but I won't put spoilers in here. His books are readily available, and most of you with children or grandchildren have probably been in the vicinity of one of them, recently.
"Well, sometimes the wind blows," he began, and we were off into the first story.
The stories he tells come from a way of life most of us in the audience were only somewhat aware of. Many of them are based on his traditional Inuit childhood and stories his Grandmother would tell him, sometimes appropriately embellished for the present date, teller, and audience. The real art and tradition of storytelling was on display as an hour whizzed past.
His interpretation of his published story "Baseball Bats For Christmas" was inspiring, a reminder that there is opportunity everywhere, buried in plain sight. He kept us entertained for a long while with a single loop of string, another vehicle for telling stories. Information and entertainment combined. I believe most of us left the library that day with our horizons considerably broadened.
Coming soon: T Is For Territories: A Yukon, Northwest Territories, And Nunavut Alphabet: A Northwest, Yukon, And A Nunavut Alaphabet
Kusugak is the author of seven picture books including Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails, winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award; Hide and Seek; My Arctic 1, 2, 3; and Baseball Bats for Christmas; and was co-writer with Robert Munsch of A Promise Is a Promise. Another book is being readied for release, "T is for Territories".
Several students expressed a familiarity with the series to which it belongs, which is used in social studies curriculum across North America. It's at the printers right now, but the dust jacket was press off the press to show us. March or April release projected for that one. "Pretty soon they'll be hitting the bookshelves."
Hands on Learning Sessions
Still thinking about those puppies?
Kusugak was the guest speaker at Canyon School's Library on Monday, February 25. "We're touring around telling stories at schools," he explained.
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| Michael Kusugak |
He kept us hanging over the aforementioned puppies, but I won't put spoilers in here. His books are readily available, and most of you with children or grandchildren have probably been in the vicinity of one of them, recently.
"Well, sometimes the wind blows," he began, and we were off into the first story.
The stories he tells come from a way of life most of us in the audience were only somewhat aware of. Many of them are based on his traditional Inuit childhood and stories his Grandmother would tell him, sometimes appropriately embellished for the present date, teller, and audience. The real art and tradition of storytelling was on display as an hour whizzed past.
+(Large).JPG) |
| "and he heaved the stone over" |
Coming soon: T Is For Territories: A Yukon, Northwest Territories, And Nunavut Alphabet: A Northwest, Yukon, And A Nunavut Alaphabet
Kusugak is the author of seven picture books including Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails, winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award; Hide and Seek; My Arctic 1, 2, 3; and Baseball Bats for Christmas; and was co-writer with Robert Munsch of A Promise Is a Promise. Another book is being readied for release, "T is for Territories".
Several students expressed a familiarity with the series to which it belongs, which is used in social studies curriculum across North America. It's at the printers right now, but the dust jacket was press off the press to show us. March or April release projected for that one. "Pretty soon they'll be hitting the bookshelves."
Hands on Learning Sessions
Michael’s wife Gerry brings a variety of items that the children can touch, try on, try out and experience. Items such as an Inuit drum, try on an amouti (coat to carry babies), look at and touch tools and implements, samples of fur, and clothing like, Kaamik, sealskin mitts, duffel socks, crocheted hats, and other items. What’s a Qulliq (stone seal oil lamp)? Look at a scale model of a kayak to see how it is constructed and much more. Learn about arctic animals and their connections to Inuit Culture. ~ michaelkusugak.com/wordpress
Still thinking about those puppies?
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