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This poetic journey through Inuit oral history gives a glimpse of traditional beliefs surrounding the creation of the world. From the creation of day and night and the Sun and the Moon, to the origin of Death, this collection of simple retellings is richly supported by the artwork of acclaimed artist Germaine Arnattaujuq.
Featuring a foreword by the artist about her work illustrating Inuit myths and legends, this introduction to traditional Inuit stories is based on the animated film Arctic Song, which was co-produced and co-directed by Germaine Arnattaujuq and Neil Christopher.
"This book combines simple retellings of traditional Inuit stories with the exquisite artwork of acclaimed artist Germaine Arnattaujuq (also includes a foreword by the artist about her work illustrating Inuit myths and legends)."—The Globe and Mail
Germaine Arnattaujuq is an award-winning Inuit artist and illustrator, best known for her prints and etchings depicting Inuit myths and traditional ways of life. In 1999, she designed the special edition two-dollar coin commemorating the founding of the territory of Nunavut. She is the co-author, with Gyu Oh, of My Name Is Arnaktauyok: The Life and Art of Germaine Arnaktauyok, and she has illustrated numerous books. Germaine is the recipient of the 2021 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts. She lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Neil Christopher is an educator, author, and filmmaker. He first moved to the North many years ago to help start a high school program in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. It was those students who first introduced Neil to the mythical inhabitants from Inuit traditional stories. Together with his colleague, Louise Flaherty, and his brother, Danny Christopher, Neil started a small publishing company in Nunavut called Inhabit Media Inc., and has since been working to promote Northern stories and authors.
Table of Contents
2 Foreword
10 Pinngurniq: In the Beginning
13 In the Beginning There Was Only Darkness
14 The Origin of Day and Night
17 The Origin of Death
20 Giants of the Earth
23 The Polar Bear Hunt That Marked the Sky
27 The Northern Lights
28 Surainiit: The Crimes That Shaped the Northern Skies
31 The Origin of the Sun and Moon
33 The Giant Orphan in the Sky
37 The Man of the Moon
38 The Orphans in the Sky
42 Nirjutit Papattijingat: Those that Created the Animals
45 The Mother of the Sea Mammals
47 The Spirit that Released Caribou in the World
53 The Blind Boy and the Loon
54 Epilogue
56 The Earth Birthed Children
59 The Tuniit
62 Contributors
64 Glossary of Inuktitut Words