Journey to the Arctic

Published by: DiscoverRemotePlaces
Release Date: TBA
Series: Discover Remote Places
Pages: TBA
ISBN: TBA

Dear Friend, Come visit us in Ausuittuq, the “village that never thaws”!

I'm Nanuq, and I see the world a bit differently than most. My feelings come with colors that dance across my vision. When I'm not in school, I'm learning our most sacred skill, the way of the harpoon. Each throw connects me to four thousand years of hunters before me. Our dad, Ataata, says mastering the harpoon is how we keep our ancestors’ wisdom alive, even as we adapt to new ways.

Our elders say there's nothing but ice all the way to the North Pole. And the ice is changing. These days, the ringed seals we hunt are harder to find, the caribou herds have shifted their migration routes too, and even the Arctic foxes seem confused by how early spring comes. When I think about these changes, my world edges with worried green, but Ataata reminds me that our people have always adapted.

I’m Nanuq’s twin sister Anusha. Nanuq's too serious sometimes. Sure, things are changing, but you should see how we celebrate! Nunavut Day is our next festival. Every one of the 144 people in our village has an important role to play during all of the summer months, when the sun circles the sky for four straight months without setting. I tell stories outside Sila Ivalu's house. Just ask for the true ones, as I have quite an imagination!

Join us where the Challenger mountains meet the sea ice, where stories are told under the midnight sun, where our traditions adapt but never fade, and where, if you're like my brother, you might just see the world in unexpected colors.

Qujannamiik (thank you) for visiting,
Nanuq and Anusha