Monica Ittusardjuat

“’There’s an opening above me, but it’s far, and I have to stack up rocks to jump up, and it’s almost impossible to get out.’ That’s when I realized that I was stripped of my identity, and there was nothing of my culture left in me. It was like I wasn’t in my body anymore. It was bare and desolate and empty and cold, lifeless in my body. Where was I? Where had I gone?”

In this visceral graphic memoir, Monica Ittusardjuat brings readers with her from residential school classrooms to government apologies on her journey to rediscovering what it means to be Inuk. Born prematurely in an iglu on Baffin Island, Monica attended three residential schools over eleven years. She details her resulting struggles with addiction, mental health, and domestic violence, which haunted her into adulthood.

Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, Monica’s memoir is a testimony to the lasting impacts of residential schools and one woman’s fight to reclaim what she lost.

The Scarf and the Butterfly is a stunning new addition to Qinuisaarniq ("resiliency"), a collection of books created to educate readers about the history and impacts of residential schools.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 14 to 18.

This book exposes readers to the experience and perspective of an Inuk residential school survivor.

This book is part of the Qinuisaarniq program. Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”) is a program created to educate Nunavummiut and all Canadians about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that have affected the Canadian Arctic.

Each resource has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that have affected Inuit. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

Additional Information
68 pages | 7.00" x 10.00" | Hardcover

Perfect for nature-loving young readers who want to expand their knowledge of Arctic animals beyond polar bears and walruses!

Animals Illustrated mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books about Arctic animals.

Each volume contains first-hand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal. In this book, kids will learn what ravens eat, where they live, how they raise their babies, and other interesting facts, like the fact that ravens have one of the biggest brains of any bird and that they can use tools!

Educator & Series Information 
Recommended Ages: 6-8

This book is part of the non-fiction Animals Illustrated series, which mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books on Arctic animals. Each volume contains firsthand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal.

Reading Levels:
Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient: P

Guided Reading Level: P

This book is available in French: Corbeau.

Additional Information 
28 pages | 6.50" x 9.00" | Hardcover

Dans ce livre, les jeunes lecteurs apprendront ce que mangent les corbeaux, où ils habitent et comment ils élèvent leurs petits. Ils apprendront aussi que le cerveau des corbeaux est plus gros que celui de presque tous les autres oiseaux et qu’ils savent utiliser des outils!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

La série de livres pédagogiques Animaux illustrés combine des informations fascinantes sur les animaux de l’Arctique, qui s’adressent aux très jeunes lecteurs, avec des illustrations minutieusement détaillées.

This book is available in English: Corbeau.

Additional Information
Hardcover

Let’s go fishing!

This wordless picture book follows a child and his father as they go fishing, catch fish, and make pitsi.

Educator & Series Information
This is an Arvaaq Book. Books in this series are intended for infants and very young children and are designed to help children develop physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

This is a Sequence Book. These wordless picture books help young children develop early book-handling behaviours and use vocabulary as they interact with the book. Developing sequencing skills can also help children recognize patterns that make the world around them more predictable.  

Recommended Ages: 3 and under

Additional Information
23 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

Authenticity Note: This book has received the Authentic Indigenous Text label as the author of this wordless story is Indigenous and the story, although containing no words, reflects Indigenous topics/themes.

This bilingual book (with text in Inuktitut syllabics, Inuktitut Roman orthography, and English) shares six Inuktitut terms for caribou throughout their life cycles, giving the youngest of readers an understanding of the rich Inuktitut terminology for these important animals.

Educator Information
This board book is recommended for ages 3 and under.

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 8.00"

“Before schools were introduced to the Inuit, we were taught by our relatives.”

In this picture book, Monica Ittusardjuat shares how she learned knowledge and skills in a time before being taken to residential school. She describes how children learned through playing games, imitating grown-ups, and observing adults around them.

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.

Inhabit Education Books is proud to introduce Qinuisaarniq (“resiliency”), a program created to educate Nunavummiut about the history and impacts of residential schools, policies of assimilation, and other colonial acts that affected the Canadian Arctic. This book is a part of that program.

Each resource in the program has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that affected Inuit. Topics covered include the residential school system, relocations to settlements and the High Arctic, sled dog slaughters, the use of E and W numbers, and others. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.

The resources in this program include personal interviews, testimony, and writing; non-fiction informational resources; and information about traditional Inuit practices.

This resource is included in the Canadian Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 list as being useful for grades 2 to 4 for English Language Arts and Social Studies. 

Additional Information
26 pages | 8.00" x 9.00"

What will Monica see and learn when she visits a new community?

Monica is visiting her aunt Peesee in Kimmirut, Nunavut. There are many wonderful things to see and do there. Monica is excited to explore and learn about her aunt's community. Join Monica and Peesee as they go clam digging, visit waterfalls, and see the tallest trees on Baffin Island in this bilingual picture book!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Dual-language: English and Inuktitut

This book is part of the Community Connections series.

Additional Information
23 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Paperback

Utak is from Nunavut. Peace is from Ghana, West Africa. They may be from different parts of the world, but many of the things they like to do are the same!

This book features common activities children might like to do, along with beautiful photographs of Nunavut and Ghana.

Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on a child in Africa and another in Nunavut.

This book is a level 7 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.

Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: C.

Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Identity; Indigenous Perspectives.

Recommended for ages 5-7.

Additional Information
16 pages | 7.80" x 7.80"

"There are many things I would like to do and see with my friend in Qikiqtarjuaq."

Monica wants to visit her friend Mary in Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. Monica likes to imagine all the fun they will have together there. Monica and Mary will go camping, fish for delicious Arctic char, and see the big icebergs around the community. There will be lots to do when Monica visits Qikiqtarjuaq in this bilingual picture book!

Educator & Series Information
Recommended for ages 3 to 5.

Dual-Language: English and Inuktitut.

This book is part of the Community Connections series.

Additional Information
19 pages | 8.00" x 9.00" | Paperback