Arctic adventure tale showcases Inuit culture to children

Akilak's Adventure is a simple story of a young girl's journey, but forthe book's author it means far more.

DeborahKigjugalik Webster, a researcher and anthropologistfrom Baker Lake, says she was inspired to write her first children's book because "there aren't a lot of books for Inuit children about life in Nunavut."

When her daughters were growing up, Webster says they alwayslooked forward to eveningstory time, when they'd read books and weave their own original stories.

"Instead of winding the kids down before bed, story time and reading would wind them up and we would stay up past our bed time," said Webster.

"[Akilak's Adventure]was inspired by my daughters' imagination and excitement and wonderment."

Tundra inspiration

The book's title charactermakes a great journey from one camp to another to gather food.

Along the way, Webster says Akilakfeelstaulittuq, an Inuktitut term describing "the experience of moving, but without the sense of nearing one's destination."

In other words, she has thefamiliar 'Are we there yet?' feeling.

In the story, Akilakdraws on her imagination and her grandmother's spirit to turn the daunting trek into an adventure.

"It hopefully reflects the way Inuk kids are and some Inuit beliefs," says Webster.

For Webster, reading the finished books brings her back to her time working as an archeologist by Nunavut's Kazan River, "when you can be on the tundra and smelling the land."

"It is fictional," she said. "Butit seems so real to methat it seems to be true."

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Inspiring the next generation

Webster says it was important for the book to be "culturally authentic" and she worked hard to weave together Inuit beliefs with the narrative.

When her daughters Nicole Amaruqand SonjaAkilak, now 15 and 18, opened the books for the first time, Webster knew she'd achieved that.

"They were so thrilled," she said, laughing.

"Anytime we can showcase our Inuit culture, I think that's a good thing."

The book has already touched at least one young Inuk.

A day after the Ottawa book launch, where Webster's friends showed off traditional Inuit clothing and toys, she got a text from her brother.

"My nephew, Timothy, who's about 10 years old, he said to his dad ...he'd like to be a writer."

Akilak'sAdventure, with illustrations by Toronto's Charlene Chua, is available through Inhabit Media. An Inuktitut version is set to be published early next year.