Serapio Ittusardjuat
Serapio Ittusardjuat was born in a qarmaq (sod house) at Akunniq (between Hall Beach and Igloolik, Nunavut) on February 1, 1945. He went to residential school in Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut, and Fort Churchill, Manitoba. He has studied art, jewellery making, and metalwork at Ottawa School of Art and Nunavut Arctic College, and is a certified journeyman mechanic. Serapio comes from a long line of walrus hunters. He organizes walrus hunts from his summer camp every year. He also goes caribou hunting with family and friends. He now lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his wife.
Kids Books (1)
Synopsis:
After his snowmobile breaks down halfway across the sea ice on a trip back from a fishing camp, Serapio Ittusardjuat recounts the traditional skills and knowledge he leaned on to stay alive.
This harrowing first-person account of four nights spent on the open sea ice—with few supplies and no water—shows young readers the determination and strength necessary to survive in the harsh Arctic climate, even when the worst occurs.
Awards
- 2022 Forest of Reading—Silver Birch Express Award
Reviews
"[T]he graphic novel How I Survived is a true story of Arctic survival written by Serapio Ittusardjuat, an Inuk stone carver and former mechanic.... This beautifully designed, highly engaging graphic novel should engross both reluctant readers and those seeking adventure." - Quill & Quire
Educator Information
Recommended for ages 12+
The original hardcover version was included in the Indigenous Books for Schools 2020/2021 resource list as being useful for grades 6 to 9 for English Language Arts and Social Studies.
Additional Information
48 pages | 7.25" x 9.75"
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