Title: Proud to be Inuvialuit/Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama
Author: James Pokiak and Mindy Willett
Photographs by: Tessa Macintosh
Publisher: Fifth House Books, 2010
Grade Range: Gr. 2-7
Location: Northwest Territories
BOOK SUMMARY
The Inuvialuit are the most westerly Canadian Inuit. He lives in the hamlet of Tuktoyuktuk, NWT, which is above the Arctic Circle on the shore of the Arctic Ocean. The community is often just called Tuk to save time. Even though he lives in town now, James grew up on the land, learning the traditional values and survival skills of his people. In this book, the fifth in the The Land is Our Storybook series, James and his daughter, Rebecca, go on a trip to harvest beluga whale. Harvesting and preparing beluga meat together as a family is an integral part of what it means to be Inuvialuit. Join James and Rebecca and learn about how the beluga whale is interlinked with Inuvialuit culture and history.
THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK PROUD TO BE INUVIALUIT
Proud to be Inuvialuit/Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama is set in the Northwest Territories. The author, an Inuvialuit (the most westerly Canadian Inuit) tells the story of a trip to harvest a beluga whale through a photo essay.
Harvesting a beluga whale is not something that most people are familiar with. The author explains the process, but he doesn’t just share the how…but also the why. Why would he harvest a beluga whale? What is the importance to him and his people? What is done with the beluga whale to show respect and not overharvesting? All of these questions are carefully answered in the book.
It’s clear through reading Proud to be Inuvialuit/Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama that the author is passionate about the importance of keeping and passing on his traditions. I found it fascinating to read about a way of life that is so different from my own. The book is rounded out by the author sharing details about his family, his community, and the Inuvialuit way of life.
I loved reading this book. It is written in a highly informative, conversational and engaging style. The photography in the book is superb and is taken by an award-winning photographer. Words of explanation accompany each photograph. The book also includes a note from the author, two maps, a list of words in the author’s language, historical notes and sections called “Our Stories”.
I’m not the only one who loves this book! The book won the 2011 Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable – Information Book Award.
I would highly recommend Proud to be Inuvialuit/Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama to anyone wanting to learn more about the way of life of Inuvialuit or Canada’s far north. It would also make a great addition to a study on the Northwest Territories.
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