Michael Kusugak facts for kids

Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak is a famous Inuk storyteller and writer from Canada. He writes amazing stories for children about the Arctic and Inuit culture. He was born on April 27, 1948, near a place called Qatiktalik, which is now in Nunavut. When he was young, his family moved to Repulse Bay and later to Rankin Inlet. As of 2022, he lives in Manitoba, close to Lake Winnipeg.

Michael Kusugak's Early Life

In 1954, when Michael was six years old, he and many friends were sent to a residential school. The teachers there were very strict. They did not let the children speak their own language, Inuktitut. Michael remembers feeling very sad and crying a lot during that time.

The next year, when the plane came to take him back to school, Michael successfully hid. But he did return to school later. He became one of the first Inuit people in the eastern Arctic to finish high school. He also studied in other cities like Yellowknife and Saskatoon. Later, he worked as an education leader for Nunavut Arctic College.

How Michael Became a Storyteller

Michael Kusugak grew up living a traditional Inuit life with his family. They often moved from place to place. Every night, young Michael would ask his grandmother to tell him a story. She would always give in and share wonderful tales. This is how Michael first fell in love with storytelling.

When Michael had his own children, he noticed something important. There were hardly any books for kids about life in the Arctic. So, he started telling his children the same stories his grandmother had told him.

In the late 1980s, another famous children's author, Robert Munsch, visited Michael's home. Together, Michael and Robert wrote Michael's first book, A Promise is a Promise. It was published in 1988. Since then, Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak has continued to write many more books. His stories have been translated into French, Korean, Japanese, and even Braille.

The Art of His Books

Most of Michael Kusugak's books are illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka. She came to Canada from Prague. Vladyana illustrated A Promise is a Promise in 1988. She has visited Nunavut many times to see the land and people. She takes photos and paints what she sees. Vladyana has also written her own books about the Arctic, like Arctic Land, Arctic Sea, and Arctic Sky.

Moons Named After His Characters

Did you know that some moons of the planet Saturn are named after characters from Michael Kusugak's books? An astronomer named John J. Kavelaars read Michael's stories. He was so inspired that he named the moons Ijiraq, Kiviuq, and Siarnaq after figures from his books. Another moon, Paaliaq, is named after a character Michael created in his book The Curse Of The Shaman: A Marble Island Story.

Awards and Special Recognition

Michael Kusugak has received several important awards for his writing.

• In 1994, his book Northern Lights won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award. This award celebrates excellent children's books.
• In 2008, Michael Kusugak won the Vicky Metcalf Award. This award recognizes a writer's entire collection of work for young people.

Important Themes in His Stories

Michael Kusugak's books often share common ideas found in Canadian Indigenous children's literature.

Strong Characters and Family Bonds

One important theme is that many of his heroes are strong girls. These girls are clever and resourceful. They use their smarts to get out of tricky situations. This helps show how important and strong Indigenous women are.

Another key theme is the focus on home and family. Elders, especially grandmothers, play a very important role in his stories. This helps children feel good about their culture and their home. In Michael's stories, "home" often includes the land itself, not just a house.

Learning from Elders

Often, the main characters in his books are warned by a parent or grandparent about a danger. But sometimes, the characters don't believe them. In the end, they learn their lesson the hard way. This teaches them to trust the wisdom and knowledge of their elders.

For example, in his first book, A Promise is a Promise, a girl named Allashua thinks her mother's warnings about the sea ice are wrong. She decides to play near cracks in the spring ice. Creatures called Qallupilluit, who live under the ice, take her. They love children but promised never to take kids who are with their parents. Allashua makes a deal with the creatures. She promises to bring them more children if they let her go. She gets home but freezes solid. After her parents warm her up, she tells them about her promise. Her parents come up with a clever plan. Together, they outsmart the Qallupilluit, keeping Allashua and her siblings safe.