Embedded Files
History
History
Inuit are the descendants of what anthropologists call the Thule people. Traditionally, Inuit were semi-nomadic people who would move accross the land and ice following the changes of seasons and abundance. Often habituated in small groups or individual families, knowledge of the land, water, ice and environment known as "sila" are key to survival. Hunting and gathering knowledge is passed down between generations, and areas of the land, water, and ice are known by name. These names are sometimes still used or being brought back into usage today; for example, the capital of Nunavut is now called Iqaluit or "the place of many fish" instead of being called "Frobisher Bay" after the Europeen explorer Frobisher who is credited as having 'discovered' the area.
The Inuit are the aboriginal inhabitants of the Arctic, from Bering Strait to East Greenland, a distance of over 6000 kilometres. As well as the Arctic, Inuit also live in northern Alaska and Greenland, and have close relatives in Russia. There are about 40,000 Inuit in Canada.
http://www.inuitknowledge.ca/inuit-research/about-inuit/inuit-culture-and-history
http://www.inuulitsivik.ca/northern-life-and-inuit-culture/who-are-the-inuits
An ulu is a traditional knife used by women to scrape skin from animals and to cut food..
Drum dancer felt stretched in the manner a seal skin might be stretched.
Drum used by Inuk drum dancers.
A drum dncer carved in soap stone, a common medium used by Inuit artists for carvings.
Language
Language
Inuktitut syllabics (Inuktitut: ᖃᓂᐅᔮᖅᐸᐃᑦ [qaniujaːqpaˈit] or ᑎᑎᕋᐅᓯᖅ ᓄᑖᖅ [titiʁauˈsiq nuˈtaːq]) is an abugida-type writing system used in Canada by the Inuktitut-speaking Inuit of the territory of Nunavut and the Nunavik region in Quebec. In November 1865, Horden and Watkins met in London under Henry Venn’s direction to adapt Cree syllabics to the Inuktitut language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuktitut_syllabics
Below is an example of the Inuktitut alphabet sung by an Inuk and there are also some street signs from communities in Nunavut written in English and Inuktitut. The Inuktitut alphabet shows the syllable for each sound and it's corresponding pronunciation in roman orthography.
Text Resources
Text Resources
The Inuit Thought of It by Alootook Ipellie
My Arctic 123 by Michael Arvaarluk Kusagak
Mikissuk's Secret by Isabelle Lafonta and Barroux
The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale retold and illustrated by Lydia Dabcovich
Mama Do you Love Me? by Barbara M, Joosee
I is for inuksuk: An Arctic Celebration by Mary Wallace
When I was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
a stranger at home : A True Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Not My Girl by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Inuksuk Journey: An Artist at the Top of the World by Mary Wallace
a northern alphabet by Ted Harrison
A Promise is a Promise story Robert Munsch & Michael Kusugak
The Kids Book of the Far North by Ann Love & Jane Drake
The Inuksuk Book by Mary Wallace
A Summer Story from the Teaching & Learning Center
A Walk on the Tundra by Rebecca Hainnu and Anna Zeigler
Siuluk The Last Tuniq by Nadia Sammurtok
Community Resources
Community Resources
Inhabit Media - an Inuit Publishing company located in Iqaluit. This website has descriptions of children's books, young adult and adult books that are available to purchase. Books are written by Inuit and people living in the Arctic.
https://www.tunngavik.com/about/ Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) ensures that promises made under the Nunavut Agreement are carried out.
Learn Inuktitut through apps! Many apps are available free that include stories and songs for children.
Singuistics - app for iphone
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