The Shaman's Apprentice

by Zacharias Kunuk, Megan Kyak-Monteith (Illustrator)

Inspired by award-winning Inuk director Zacharias Kunuk’s short film of the same name, The Shaman’s Apprentice tells the story of a young shaman in training who must face her first test―a trip to the underground to visit Kannaaluk, The One Below, who holds the answers to why a community member has become ill. Facing dark spirits and physical challenges, the young shaman must learn to stifle her fear and listen to what Kannaaluk has to tell her.

Genres: Indigenous, Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Tina Haigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love indigenous stories, and this was no exception. I really appreciated the length of the story, how detailed it was, and its use of the Inuktitut language. Also, the art was absolutely gorgeous! The book doesn't tell me the medium used, but it is striking and the color is rich. I also love the layout, with a solid black page with the text in white to the left, and a full-color page of stunning art to the right. This would make an excellent addition to any bookshelf. Due to the high word count, and difficult words for native English speakers, I recommend this for ages 8 and up. However, if you are super uptight, like some of the other reviewers I've seen, maybe you should skip this one instead of getting bent out of shape.


*Side rant: I've noticed some people have given this poor reviews, based on the practices mentioned in this book, or the fact that they consider it a "myth", so I will say this: Barring mental, physical abuse, or mutilation, it is not our place to judge someone else's--let alone a whole peoples'--customs or beliefs. Also, I think it's rude to be throwing the word myth around. While it very well could be just a regular story--say, Goldilocks and the Three Bears--it could be a religious one that they believe wholeheartedly as true--for instance, Noah's Ark. I am unfamiliar with the author's and illustrator's cultures, so I honestly have no idea. What I do know is that if you were a Christian, you wouldn't appreciate someone saying Jesus Christ is a myth, so maybe, unless you know for a fact that it's just a regular story, keep the "myth" stuff to yourself.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a children's picture book, The Shaman's Apprentice bothered me.

The illustrations are beautiful, and I appreciate books that expand one's cultural awareness. But we did have to explain afterwards to our four-year-old that this was very clearly a myth, and that you can't actually try to heal sickness by rubbing urine on people. We also explained that no, people don't get sick because they do a bad thing, and eating polar bear tongues is wrong regardless of whether you share them or not.

Really, it was the sickness thing that bothered me the most. Reading this during the COVID-19 pandemic, we've obviously spent a lot of time this year talking about germs and contagion with our kid. The idea that people get sick because they were ashamed of doing something wrong is just not a concept I think is super helpful for him to encounter at this point. Actually, I think it's an idea that is troublesome at ALL times (e.g., the early years of the AIDS epidemic, and how far too many people dismissed it because they thought gay men deserved to get sick).

In other words, while I feel I have the knowledge and ability to contextualize this story as an adult, my kids aren't really good yet at understanding how some things can be both good and bad. They're far more likely to just take them literally, so I had to do some work here to make sure they didn't get any misconceptions from this book.

[Abigail (Abbe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine addition to indigenous Canadian literature from the folks at Inhabit Media. Inspired by Kunuk's (Canadian Inuk) award-winning short film with the same name, this dark story is firmly set in an Inuktitut village has all the earmarks of a folk tale, however there is no indication that this is the case.

Supijaq, a young apprentice to her grandmother Quguliq (the area's shaman/healer), is sitting in their qarmaq (sod house) helping her prepare for a ceremony. A young man enters the dwelling that there is a sick man in his camp that needs healing. The two are taken by dogsled to the camp. Along the way, the sack with her qurvik (bed pan) falls off the back of the qamutiik (sled). When Qunguliq asks the sick man why he is sick, he refuses to respond. When asked to retrieve the qurvik, Supijaq comes back inside to report it is not on the sled. Qunguliq tells her to go back to th sled to get it; Supijaq is surprised to see it is there. When her first attempt to heal him fails, Quguiliq realizes she must go to the underground to visit Kannaaluk (The One Below). Using magic, an entrance to the underground appears. She cautions Supijaq that there will be danger there and not to show fear. When they reach Knnaaluk, she tells the two that the sick man had broken a taboo and this was his punishment. When they returned, the man admitted his actions and they were able to heal him and return home.

Nicely paced, this intriguing story by Kunuk pulls back curtains for others to read this tale of magic, mystery, and healing, as from the point of view of the young shaman. The use of Inuktitut words in the text helps it feel authentic. (A glossary in back clarifies terms and their pronunciations.) There is no violence and the only "magic" described is when Qunguliq and Supijaq enter the underground.

Artwork by Megan Kyak-Monteith (Canadian Inuk) is stunning. Use of high contrast light/dark is very effective, with interior images dark but warmed with light and heat and exteriors ones bright and white. It is intriguing to see inside the iglu homes, with large stones stacked as walls, a sunken center area, and "ceiling" made of whale bones lashed together to support the covering. Qunguliq is almost spooky looking as her face is lit from below highlighting her missing lower teeth and facial tattoos. The image of Supijaq's skeleton "leaving her body" in order for her to enter the underworld may be frightening to some readers.

Unlike some Inhabit Media books, this one includes no violence - rather it is about the consequences of breaking the rules. It looks dark and spooky, but it is not.

Include this title when studying indigenous cultures of Canada and Northern regions.

Highly Recommended for grades 1-5.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing little piece, telling of how a female elder was able to cure an ill man – and how she was able to do it with the company of her apprentice. I say with her company, as the younger didn't make a mountain of difference, but she was on hand to learn something, and that's what this story and its like are about – passing on traditions and the heritage of this Arctic civilisation. Reading it here in the UK I felt privileged to witness it, but not completely engaged – what with the amount of local words and terms in the text, and the brief mention of this or that detail that would need more context and explanation. (Until the closing glossary you have to wonder "whose urine?", which is definitely the first time I'd typed that in response to any junior fiction from anywhere.) There is also much local colour in the artwork, and this is where the book is really distinguished – no wonder the text is on the left-hand page leaving the full right-hand page to be the art, with nothing to interrupt it. The traditional facial tattoos, the interpretation of all the magical goings-on here – this is really interesting, and will fascinate anyone here for a sort of anthropological reason, and of course engage with the target readers this and this publisher aim at. For them this is an easy four stars, even if for the rest of us it is a bit too short, blunt and peculiar to really win.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an illustrated children’s book that takes the reader on a journey with an Inuit Shaman and her apprentice. The pair make a house call to diagnose and treat a man who is laid up in his sickbed. That diagnosis and treatment involves “visiting” a kind of spirit guide who provides them the information needed to understand the man’s ailment.

The pictures are beautiful, detailed, and rich in insight into the Inuit way of life. They are full-page illustrations rendered in a painting-like style.

The text consists of, at most, a paragraph on each page that opposes the respective illustration, thus making this a book that could easily be read as a bedtime story. It’s a simple and straightforward story.

The book explores the interesting issue of how our behaviors and mindset can influence our physical health. Some parents may be more comfortable than others with the supernatural way in which the patient’s ailment comes to be understood – i.e. through consultation with a spirit. However, if one is at all prone to buy a book featuring “Shaman” in the title, you’re probably not going to be disturbed by the material or the questions that might arise as a result of said material.

I found this book to be interesting and beautifully illustrated. If you’re looking for some diversity in what your children are exposed to, you may want to look into it.

[April Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an illustrated picture book of the short film of the same name, made by Zacharias Kunuk. In it, we see a young shaman's apprentice going with the shaman to treat a sick man in another village, who is unwilling to say why he is sick. To find the reason, the shaman and her apprentice must travel to the underworld to ask Kannaaluk, The One Below, who reveals the source of the man's illness. He has broken a taboo, and once he confesses, he is able to be healed.
This is an interesting look into Inuit culture and spiritual beliefs, and the situation provides a test of sorts for the young apprentice, who behaves much better than I would have done- I would've tried to boop the big doggie's nose! I admired her poise in what must have been a frightening situation, she never showed fear. I also appreciated the mind/body connection , where the man did something he knew was wrong, and it made him physically ill. The artwork is just stunning, there is a glow to it throughout, and the subtle changes in light and feel illustrate how close we are to the otherworld.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accompanying by luminous, eye-popping illustrations that need to be examined carefully, this picture book tells the story of a would-be shaman who is learning the ropes from her more experienced elder. As part of her training, Supijaq follows her grandmother, Qunguliq, to the bed of a man who is very ill. It isn't clear what ails him, and he refuses to talk. Even spreading urine on his skin doesn't produce a cure. Knowing that they will need to take further steps, Qunguliq and her granddaughter travel underground where they find the answers to the man's problems. This is an interesting glimpse into Inuktitut culture. I continue to be impressed with the beauty and authenticity of these books and the publisher's devotion to keeping the culture alive and in the minds of both cultural insiders and outsiders. The suspense builds quickly over the course of the tale.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on Kunuk's short film of the same name, The Shaman's Apprentice is a fascinating story of a shaman and her granddaughter apprentice as they seek to heal a man with a spiritual illness. The story is interesting (and definitely piques my curiosity about the film) but the art is what really knocked my socks off here, with every image really jumping out at me. I've never been disappointed by Inhabit Media, and today isn't the day I start. Recommended!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting Inuit picture book with lovely illustrations. My daughter had many questions (urine for healing?) but found the story quite fascinating. The pronunciation guide at the back was helpful. Might be a bit dark for younger readers. A good read, just be prepared to Google any questions your child may have.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Rats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations. I love that children have books that support the diversity of the world. The art is lovely.

[Gwen - Chew & Digest Books - · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations and the opportunity to broaden cultural awareness are great. The concept of using urine for healing is cringe.