Traditional Inuit Myths and Legends What are Inuit Traditional Stories? ᐊᐃᖓᐃ, ᑕᐃᔅᓱᒪᓂ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᕐᕕᐅᕙᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᒐᑦᑕ Inuit traditional stories have been passed on from person ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ. ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᕕᓕᐊᖅᑎᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᑎᒃ to person for generations in the Arctic. These stories are ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓄᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐳᓛᕆᐊᖅᐸᒃᑐᑕ ᓈᓚᒋᐊᖅᑐᑕ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. part of Inuit oral history and could include cautionary ᐊᒥᓱᑲᓪᓚᖕᓂᒃ ᑕᐃᒫᒃ ᑐᓵᔪᓐᓇᓚᕿᓯᒪᔪᒍᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᐅᑎᓪᓗᖓ. tales, stories of how the world and all its inhabitants were created, experiences with supernatural beings, or stories ᒫᓐᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᕈᓰᑦ ᑐᓵᖃᑦᑕᖏᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ, that chronicle great journeys. These stories are encoded ᑭᓯᐊᓂᓕ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒃᐳᖓ ᐊᒥᓱᑲᓪᓚᐅᓕᕐᒪᑕ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᑦ with traditional knowledge and Inuit values. ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐊᕆᓯᒪᔭᕗᑦ ᑐᓴᖅᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᑦ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᖅᑑᑎᐊᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓚᖏᓪᓗ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖃᐅᖅᑐᑦ ᐱᖖᒍᕐᓂᕕᓃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ, ᓲᕐᓗ ᖃᓄᖅ ᑕᒃᓯᖅ ᐱᖖᒍᕐᓂᕐᒪᖔᑦ. ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅᑐᐊᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑐᖃᐃᓪᓘᓐᓃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᖃᐅᕐᒪᑕ ᒫᓐᓇ ᓱᓕ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓂᒃ, Titles preceded by this ᓲᕐᓗ ᐱᒃᑯᓕᒋᐊᖃᖏᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕐᒥᑎᑐᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᒡᔪᐊᖅ ᐊᕕᖖᒐᕐᓗ, symbol are written by Elders. ᓯᓚᑦᑑᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ ᕿᒪᕉᑎᔪᓐᓇᖅᓯᒪᔪᑯᓗᒃ. ᐊᑏᑐᖅ ᐅᑯᐊ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕆᓂᐊᖅᐸᓯᐅᒃ ᑐᓴᕐᓂᕆᒐᒃᑭᑎᑐᑦ. ᓗᐃᔅ ᕝᓚᕼᐅᕐᑎ Hey there, When I was a child, we used to listen to storytellers arranged by the school. The elders would come to our classes, or we would have to go visit them at their houses to listen to them tell stories. I was fortunate to hear quite a few as a child. Nowadays, not very many children are exposed to these sto- ries. I’m happy to share a list of our publications about these traditional stories that can be heard now. There are creation stories, such as how fog came to be. We also have stories that can teach us, such as The Owl and the Lemming, in which the lemming was able to use his smarts to get away from an over- ly confident owl, teaching children not to be boastful. Backgroud Illustration: I hope you will enjoy them as much as I enjoy them. Kiviuq and the Bee Woman Louise Flaherty 2 3 Inhabit Media publications are distributed to the book trade in Canada by Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd., in the U.S. by Consortium Book and Distribution Services, and internationally by Ingram Publisher Services. Canadian Orders Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited 195 Allstate Parkway Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8 Tel: 1-800-387-9776 Ext. 225 Email: [email protected] U.S. Orders Consortium Book Sales & Distribution The Keg House, Suite 101 34 13th Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55413-1007 Tel: (866) 400-5351 Fax: (800) 838-1149 Email: [email protected] International Orders Ingram Publisher Services International 1400 Broadway, Suite 520 New York, NY 10018 Email: [email protected] Please send orders and remittances to: [email protected] Individuals can ask their local bookstores to order Inhabit Media publications through Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Backgroud Illustration: Consortium, or Ingram, or order online at InhabitBooks.com Taakanaluk 4 5 A Comprehensive Introduction to Inuit Traditional Stories This exhaustive story collection makes the rich tradition of Inuit storytelling accessible to the rest of Canada for the first time. From creation myths to animal fables, Unikkaaqtuat gives non-Inuit readers a thorough introduction to the world of Inuit traditional stories. This definitive collection of legends and myths is thoughtfully introduced and carefully annotated. It provides the historical and cultural context needed to understand this rich oral tradition. ISBN 978-1-926569-16-1 $24.95 52495 9 781926 569161 Unikkaaqtuat An Introduction to Inuit Myths and Legends Edited by Neil Christopher Adult English Paperback ISBN: 978-1-926569-16-1 • $24.95 • 9" × 7" 288 pages This exhaustive story collection makes the rich tradition of Inuit storytelling accessible to the rest of Canada. From creation myths to animal fables, Unikkaaqtuat gives non-Inuit readers a thorough introduction to the world of Inuit traditional stories. This definitive collection of legends and myths is thoughtfully introduced and carefully annotated. It provides the historical and cultural context needed to understand this rich oral tradition. 6 7 Arctic Giants Written by Neil Christopher Illustrated by Eva Widermann Ages 12+ English Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-926569-09-3 • $24.95 • 8.5" × 10.25" 128 pages • 60 black-and-white illustrations Children’s fantasy, myth Inuktitut Paperback ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ ᐃᓄᒃᐸᓱᒡᔪᐃᑦ ᒥᒃᓵᓄᑦ ISBN: 978-1-92569-20-8 • $19.95 Experience the exciting world of Arctic giants through traditional tales from around Nunavut. Based on elder interviews from more than one hundred years ago, these stories reveal the fearsome giants that once stalked the Arctic. From enormous beings strong enough to pick up a walrus with one hand to massive creatures that towered over mountains and could carry humans on the lace of one boot, these stories will introduce readers to a vast array of Arctic giants. 8 9 Ava and the Little Folk Written by Alan Neal and Neil Christopher Illustrated by Jonathan Wright Ages 5–7 English Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-927095-02-7 • $13.95 • 8.5" × 8.5" • 48 pages Full-colour illustrations throughout • Picture book Inuktitut Paperback ᐊᕙ ᐃᓄᒐᕈᓪᓕᒐᓪᓗ ISBN: 978-1-927095-08-9 • $13.95 French Paperback Ava et le monde des tout-petits ISBN: 978-1-927095-34-8 • $9.95 Silver Birch Express Award Honour Book, 2014 This contemporary tale of Arctic magic will ignite the imaginations of young readers. The most magical things can come in tiny packages! In the Arctic, tales of tiny people who live on the land abound. This children’s story follows the adventures of an orphan named Ava who is left to fend for himself by the adults in his village. One day, cold and alone, Ava stumbles upon a group of magical dwarves who finally show him how it feels to have a home of his own. 10 11 The Blind Boy and the Loon Written and Illustrated by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril Ages 7–9 English Hardcover -29- ISBN: 978-1-927095-57-7 • $16.95 • 8.5" × 8.5" 48 pages • Full-colour illustrations throughout Picture book blindboy_final1_nfont.indd 29 14-02-17 1:35 AM Inuktitut Paperback ᓱᕈᓯᖅ ᑕᐅᑐᖖᒋᑦᑐᖅ ᖃᖅᓴᐅᕐᓗ ISBN: 978-1-927095-81-2 • $9.95 Based on an acclaimed National Film Board of Canada/Inuit Broadcasting Corporation co-produced animated short, The Blind Boy and the Loon is a beautiful retelling of a traditional Inuit story that both explains the origin of the narwhal and cautions listeners against the dangers of seeking revenge. 12 13 blindboy_final1_nfont.indd 44 14-02-17 1:36 AM Based on a traditional Inuit story, this tale of inner beauty, kindness, and magic is a perfect addition to any young reader’s bookshelf. The Caterpillar Woman Written by Nadia Sammurtok Illustrated by Carolyn Gan Ages 7–9 English Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-77227-083-9 • $16.95 • 9" × 7" 36 pages • Full-colour illustrations throughout Picture book Inuktitut Paperback ᐊᕐᓇᖅ ᒥᖅᑯᓕᖏᐊᖅ ISBN: 978-1-77227-133-1 • $10.95 Piujuq is a kind young woman who loves to take long walks on the tundra and dance by her favourite lake surrounded by butterflies. But one day, she encounters a stranger on her walk. When this person asks a favour of Piujuq, she happily obliges, and that kindness leaves Piujuq stuck in the body of a caterpillar. Alone, and thinking that no one could ever love her because of how she looks, Piujuq does not return to her camp. Instead, she lives a lonely life on the tundra as a caterpillar. Until one day, when another stranger appears . 14 15 “Dark, sparse and compelling.” —Kirkus Reviews The Country of Wolves Written by Neil Christopher Illustrated by Ramón Pérez Ages 12+ English Paperback ISBN: 978-1-927095-35-5 • $19.95 9" × 7" • 92 pages • Full-colour graphic novel Inuktitut Paperback ᐊᒪᖅᑯᑦ ᓄᓈᑦ ISBN: 978-1-927095-20-1 • $19.95 French Paperback La contrée des loups ISBN: 978-1-77227-010-5 • $17.95 Based on the acclaimed animated film Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves, this visually stunning graphic novel takes readers on a mysterious adventure with two brothers who are lost at sea. It begins as an average hunting trip for two young men. But when they find themselves adrift at sea, the only safe haven to be found for miles—a mysterious village filled with the sounds of drum dancing and revelry—turns out to be even more dangerous than the frigid ocean. 16 17 dreaded_cover_print_n.pdf 1 15-02-09 1:56 PM “The Arctic can be a dangerous place. In the winter we have extreme cold and vicious winds. The sea ice can be unpredictable. And the long nights can make life difficult. But the Arctic has other dangers that are unknown to outsiders. One of these dangers has a name—amautalik.” The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra introduces the world to the amautalik, one of the feared land spirits of the North. It is said that these powerful women wander the tundra looking for disobedient children and unsuspecting travellers, and carry them away on their backs. This book contains general information about these supernatural beings, as well as two spine-tingling retellings of traditional Inuit legends. This revised and expanded edition—originally published as Stories of the Amautalik—brings the amautalik to life in even greater, creepier detail than the original. Revised text andct additional content make this new edition a must-read for young readers who are intrigued with the dark and dreaded beings of the North! Praise for Stories of the Amautalik: “Interesting and well told. The book echoes the strongest of good storytelling traditions . Highly recommended.”—Review of Canadian Materials “Vividly illustrated with truly ghastly creatures presented with striking nastiness . four out of four stars.”—Deakin Review of Children’s Literature ISBN 978-1-927095-79-9 $16.95 51695 ISBN 978-1-927095-75-1 $16.95 51695 9781927095799 inhabitmedia.com 9781927095751 The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra Written by Neil Christopher Illustrated by Larry MacDougall Ages 5–7 English Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-927095-79-9 • $16.95 8.5" × 8.5" • 60 pages Full-colour illustrations throughout Picture book Revised edition of: Stories of the Amautalik • 978-0-9782186-3-8 The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra introduces the world to the amautalik, one of the feared land spirits of the North.