REVIEWS
Quinuitug (deep patience), nukilik (strength) and silatuyok (intelligence) are traits 16-year- old Piturnuq (Pitu) demonstrates as he har- poons his first seal of the season, providing food for his Inuit community and becoming known as a great hunter. He brings pride to his family and wins affection from Samia, the girl he wants to marry. His abilities catch el- der Tagagg’s attention, who decides to train Pitu to one day take his place. During training, Tagagg senses a darkness
in Pitu’s future and a tirigannaiaq (fox) ap- pears in Pitu’s dream. Tagagg predicts that Pitu will have to travel to the spirit world to save a shaman named Tatuq who disappeared long ago. In a violent blizzard, Pitu is separat- ed from his hunting party and is transported to the spirit world. But does Pitu have what it takes to survive?
THOSE WHO RUN IN THE SKY Aviaq Johnston Inhabit Media Inc., 2017 196 pages, $13.95 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Anna Armstrong
Join Pitu and Tiri, his spirit guide, on this action-packed adventure as he battles to stay alive against qallupilluit (creatures that lure children onto the ice to steal them), amaruq (wolves, in this case gigantic black wolves with red menacing eyes), and an Inukpak (giant). Pitu finds Tatuq and begins an apprenticeship in the spirit world to learn what he requires
Kode’s Quest(ion): A Story of Respect explores the meaning of one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings as seen through the eyes of a young girl. The story is about Kode’s quest to learn what respect means. She asks everyone she knows. Each person responds in a different way: taking care of Mother Earth, being good to people around you, helping your elders, tak- ing care of yourself, living by the seven teach- ings and doing your best. Kode learns a lot but is still uncertain what respect means to her. In the end, she sits down and, after taking a deep breath, finds her own meaning of “respect.” The story is set in an urban landscape with
KODE’S QUEST(ION), A STORY OF RESPECT Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Irene Kuziw Highwater Press, 2014 24 pages, $11.95 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Reviewed by Tanushree Krishnanand.
Indigenous central characters. This is a heart- felt story that serves as a cultural bridge for non-Indigenous people wishing to familiar- ize themselves with contemporary Indigenous culture. With illustrations on every page, the book is good for students from Kindergarten through Grade four. The book has the poten- tial to spark good conversations about what respect means in different contexts. Students will learn that respect is practiced every day in our lives, wherever we might be – at home, with friends, at school or in the community. The concept of teaching respect is reiterated
throughout Ontario’s Physical Education cur- riculum in all the grades as a part of active participation, observing personal safety and demonstrating respect to all classmates and cultures. Throughout the book, the names and re-
lationships are in Anishinaabe, which is an effective way of integrating Indigenous cul- ture into the classroom. The reader will ap- preciate the pronunciation guide for the An- ishinaabe words on the inside back cover. As a teacher, the process that Kode goes through in her quest is similar to an inquiry process. While looking for an answer, Kode asks (re- searches) her community and then takes in all the responses to form her own opinion. The play on words in the title, i.e. quest(ion), is also a good segue into how words are formed. Above all, this story of respect is a charming tale of a young girl learning values in her culture and, in turn, teaching all of us.
Tanushree Krishnanand is a member of the Durham Occasional Teacher Local.
to safely return home to the ones he loves. If Pitu does not learn, he and Tatuq will remain trapped in the spirit world forever. This award-winning novel is suitable for
students in Grades seven and eight. The book can be used to teach intermediate language, history,
geography and science. Survival,
leadership, culture, community and the envi- ronment are topics to explore in read-aloud or small reading groups. This book could be used to spark inquiry projects in geography, history and science to study the impact the environment has on the community, Inuit perspectives in Canadian history and the role of climate change in the north. This story is full of uakallangaak (surprises) and is alianait (a joy) to read!
Anna Armstrong is a member of the Upper Grand Teacher Local.
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