October 24, 2020 — This week, Unreserved is celebrating Indigenous names for places and people — and grappling with Canada's record of erasing those histories. Ts'msyen and Dene lawyer Christina Gray argues that using traditional place names is a way to remind us of Indigenous peoples' authority over the land. She'll explain what the Yellowhead Institute found in their report, "Reclaiming Indigenous Place Names."...
→ Read MoreOctober 24, 2020 — Renowned children's author Michael Kusugak loves telling a good story. And you can't have a story without a character, and a name. From Kiviuq — the heroic and ancient wanderer who will slowly turn to stone as we reach the end of the universe — to Ijirait, the shape-shifters that love a good game of hide and seek, many of...
→ Read MoreOctober 3, 2020 — The Most Amazing Bird is a picture book by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak, illustrated by Andrew Qappik The Most Amazing Bird is about a young girl named Aggataa on a winter walk with her grandmother. Along the way they see tulugarguat, the ravens. Aggataa thinks they are the ugliest birds that she's ever seen. But after connecting with one small raven,...
→ Read MoreDecember 14, 2019 — In Baseball Bats for Christmas, it's 1955 on Repulse Bay, a small community set in the Arctic Circle. When a group of children come across a bunch of Christmas trees delivered by a bush pilot, they decide to use their imaginations to have a fun game of baseball in the cold. With illustrations by Vladyana Langer Krykorka, Baseball Bats for Christmas...
→ Read MoreJuly 10, 2019 — July 9 is Nunavut Day! It marks the 1993 date that the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act went into effect, which led to Nunavut officially becoming a territory on April 1, 1999. To celebrate Nunavut's 20 years, here's a list of 20 books featuring Nunavut storytellers. Click here to read the full article.
→ Read MoreJune 1, 2019 — Books and reading will be celebrated in downtown Nanaimo. The Vancouver Island Children’s Book Festival will return this weekend, with authors and illustrators meeting children and their families. Bookfest takes place Saturday, June 1, at Diana Krall Plaza, the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo Museum, Harbourfront Library and the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Bookfest is made up of a series of...
→ Read MoreNovember 29, 2018 — An Inuit storyteller will be at the Fort National Historic Site this Saturday, sharing tales of his childhood and living a traditional Inuit lifestyle. Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak who grew up in Repulse Bay, NWT (now Nunavut), will spend the afternoon sharing Arctic stories, including tales of how his family travelled by dog sled. Michael comes to the Fort Langley National...
→ Read MoreSeptember 28, 2018 — In his essay for the new educational resource, storyteller Michael Kusugak reflects on what place names can tell us about language and culture. "Nunannguaq: Capturing the Character of Our Land"By Michael Kusugak Nunannguaq is the Inuit word for map. It means “representation of land.” Like other peoples around the world, we have always carried maps in our minds. I come...
→ Read MoreSeptember 20, 2018 — A Promise Is A Promise is a picture book by Michael Kusugak and Robert Munsch. (Annick Press) This collaboration between Guelph, Ont. children's author Robert Munsch and Rankin Inlet writer Michael Kusugak brings the Arctic to life for young readers. Featuring a protagonist named Allashua, A Promise Is A Promise takes readers on a journey below the sea ice, where...
→ Read MoreJune 30, 2018 — To celebrate World Book Day, here are 100 Canadian writers the world should read. Click here to read the full article.
→ Read MoreMay 2, 2017 — 70. He co-wrote the book A Promise Is A Promise with Inuk children's writer Michael Kusugak about the monster Qallupilluit after a visit with Kusugak in Rankin Inlet. Click here to read the full article.
→ Read MoreSeptember 27, 2015 — Arctic Stories, by Michael Kusugak (Ages 4-8) Arctic Stories by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak (Annick Press)This trio of stories about a 10-year-old girl named Agatha is based on the childhood experiences of beloved Inuit author Michael Kusugak. The book begins with a tale of Agatha 'saving' her community from a monstrous flying object. The book also includes the story of Agatha...
→ Read More