By Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley
Kunnujaq (kun-noo-yuq) drives his dogsled across the tundra alone. He has heard of the shy, strange Tuniit (too-neet) tribe, only a fable in stories from his elders. When he finds himself in the midst of a Tuniit tribe that's being attacked by murderous men he joins the Tuniit to save their tribe.
When I came across this book, I believed it to be fantasy folded in with Inuit myths and culture. It is not quite the case. It is fiction, but not fantasy. It is historical, based on the tribes of men that lived in the Arctic - where we might call Baffin Island today.
This book is incredible.
It starts as if you were sitting down around a fire and a narrator was beginning the story. It's informal and personal, asking the reader questions. This would do well for reading aloud. Then it switches to a more formal narrative when the story is being told. There are two layers to the telling.
I'd like to know if this tale is based on an Inuit tale. Unfortunately, there isn't a background for the conception of the book. However, there is a wonderful glossary at the back that gives the pronunciation, the words written in syllabics, the defition along with cultural significance. These all-new concepts were described so well, I immediately attached to the culture. I was fascinated.
Othering is a big topic in this book. Kunnujaq, the protagonist, is a solitary wanderer. He does not mind being alone. He then encounters a Tuniit tribe, people of the same land, but one he has never encountered before. They request his help and he is torn between helping them or continuing his wanderings. Then we have the Siaraili, the murderous invaders. They are pale and bearded, hailing from Gronland (Greenland). These are the vikings - the ones on the front cover of the book. Already we have more than one layer of others, foreigners, and Kunnujaq gives his honest reaction to each. It is what I liked the most of this book.
I liked Kunnujaq as the main character. He made very human decisions, not always right.
The story is a short one and I highly recommend it for anyone remotely interested in elements of the Inuit cultures, pre-colonial (before Europeans came and took over). Fascinating.
4/5 STARS
Classroom: Recommended highly. 79 pages, reads quickly. Suggested age group Grade 5-7.
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