Michael Kusugak facts for kids

Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak (Inuktitut: ᐊᕐᕚᕐᓗᒃ ᑯᓱᒐᖅ) is a Canadian Inuk storyteller and children's writer. He shares amazing stories about the Arctic and Inuit culture. He was born on April 27, 1948, near Chesterfield Inlet, in a place called Qatiktalik. This area is now part of Nunavut.

In 1948, his family moved to Repulse Bay. Later, in 1960, they moved to Rankin Inlet. As of 2022, Michael Kusugak lives in Manitoba, close to Lake Winnipeg.

Michael Kusugak's Early Life and Education

When Michael was six years old, in 1954, he was sent away to a residential school. Many of his friends went too. The teachers at the school were very strict. They did not let the children speak their own language, Inuktitut. Michael remembers often crying at the back of the classroom.

The next year, Michael successfully hid when the plane came to take students back to school. However, he returned the following year. He became one of the first Inuit people in the eastern Arctic to graduate from high school. He also studied in Yellowknife, Churchill, and Saskatoon. Later, he worked as an education leader for Nunavut Arctic College.

How Michael Kusugak Became a Storyteller

Michael Kusugak grew up living a traditional Inuit life with his family. They often moved from place to place. Every night, 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 almost no books for kids about life in the Arctic. So, he started telling his children the stories his grandmother had told him.

In the late 1980s, another famous children's author, Robert Munsch, visited Michael's home. Together, they wrote Michael's first book, A Promise is a Promise. It was published in 1988. Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak has been writing ever since. His books have been translated into French, Korean, Japanese, and even Braille.

The Art of Vladyana Krykorka

Most of Michael Kusugak's books are brought to life by the beautiful illustrations of Vladyana Krykorka. The only exception is T is for Territories, which is a non-fiction book. Vladyana came to Toronto from Prague when the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia.

She illustrated A Promise is a Promise in 1988. Since then, she has visited Nunavut many times. She takes photos and paints the land and its people. Vladyana has also written and illustrated her own books about the northern land and animals. These include Arctic Land, Arctic Sea, and Arctic Sky.

Saturn's Moons Named After His Characters

Did you know that some of Saturn's moons are named after characters from Michael Kusugak's books? An astronomer named John J. Kavelaars found these characters in one of Kusugak's books. He then named the moons Ijiraq, Kiviuq, and Siarnaq.

Another moon, Paaliaq, was named after one of Michael's own characters. This character appeared in his book The Curse Of The Shaman: A Marble Island Story.

Awards and Honors

Michael Kusugak's books have won important awards:

• In 1994, his book Northern Lights won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award.
• In 2008, Michael Kusugak received the Vicky Metcalf Award.

Important Themes in Michael Kusugak's Stories

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

Strong Female Characters

Many of his stories feature brave and clever girls as the main heroes. These girls use their smarts and skills to get out of tough situations. This theme helps show the strength and importance of Indigenous women.

Home, Family, and Elder Wisdom

Another important theme in Kusugak's books is the focus on home, family, and the special role of elders. Grandmothers, in particular, are often very important characters. This helps children feel good about their culture and their home. In his stories, "home" often includes the land itself, not just a house.

Often, the main characters in his books are warned by a parent or grandparent about a danger. But sometimes, they don't believe the warning. In the end, they learn their lesson the hard way and realize they should have trusted the wisdom 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. These creatures love children but promised never to take kids who are with their parents. Allashua makes a deal: 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. Together, they come up with a clever plan to trick the Qallupilluit. This way, Allashua and her siblings stay safe.

Discography

• Inuit Songs & Stories: Learn How to Throat Sing