What I love about you
Rankin author has early reader's book published
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
Pujjuut Kusugak may not be ready to compete with his uncle, Michael Kusugak, just yet, but he did have his first children's book published in Rankin Inlet this past month.
Pujjut Kusugak of Rankin Inlet and his daughter, Piunnguallaq, show the early-reader's book written by Pujjuut and illustrated by Ippiksaut Friesen of Rankin that was published this past month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo
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Piupiuqarama (an early reader's book) is published in Inuktitut by Ilitaqsiniq --Nunavut Literacy Council, and is illustrated by Rankin's Ippiksaut Friesen.
The book is based on the love a father has for his daughter through the Inuit custom of aqausiq.
It may be purchased at Ilitaqsiniq's Rankin office for $20, or at the Ilitaqsiniq website, www.ilitaqsiniq.ca (web address published with permission).
Pujjuut's book was produced with funding from Nunavut's Department of Culture and Heritage.
Piupiuqarama will be given for free to day cares, preschools and elementary schools to develop, encourage and support Inuktitut literacy.
Pujjuut said the eight-page book came about accidentally.
He said he was still working for the Kivalliq Inuit Association at the time, about three-and-a--half years ago, when his panik (daughter), Piunnguallaq, was a little more than two years old.
"I'm not a great singer, but my panik would never know that, so I sang this song I still sing to her, and she just turned six," laughed Pujjuut. "At the time, I thought, maybe, I could write her a story, so I made up different verses to the song and turned it into a story. Basically, it's a story on her different characteristics that I did to the tune of You Are My Sunshine and it really worked out.
"I didn't think much of it until sometime this past year when my wife's (Adriana) office was looking to publish books and I had this story."
Adriana submitted Pujjuut's idea and it was decided it would make an excellent early--reader's book.
Pujjuut said he started throwing some ideas around, edited the text, and it all took off from there.
"We were talking about an artist and the idea came up of having my cousin (Friesen) do the art and I loved the idea," said Pujjuut.
"Then things really started moving and, sure enough, a book gets made."
Pujjuut said he never had any aspirations of being an author, it just happened.
He said Inuit aqaq (a term of endearment) any loved one they have and any aqausiq (the process of aqaq) is unique to one person.
"One person might have several different aqausiqs that are for them.
"I'm 36 and my anaanatsiaq (grandmother), Rhoda Karetak, still aqaqs me, and she has one just for me.
"I have that one song to aqaq my panik, but I also have another one for her that's not really words but more like gibberish.
"Some of them are more like sounds than words, because they love somebody so much they come up with a song, or an endearment they can't put into words, that sticks with the person for the rest of their life."
Piunnguallaq said she's very proud of her dad's book.
She said it's pretty cool to have a book that's about her.
"I like the book because of one page," said Piunnguallaq.
"It's the page where my ataata (father) and I are having a tea party."
Pujjuut laughs out loud over why his daughter says she likes his book.
He said there were plenty of times he was glad their tea party was a private, family affair.
"A few times she put stuff on me for a tea party that I would never have worn had it been anyone else who asked.
"I have another idea, in its very early stages, I hope one day gets produced.
"It's all about having resources for children to lean and practice reading Inuktitut and, hopefully, providing an opportunity for parents to sit and read with their children.
"Really, that's one of the main goals of writing a children's book."
