Making a Whole Person: Traditional Inuit Education: English Edition

by Monica Ittusardjuat, Yong Ling Kang (Illustrator)

"Before schools were introduced to the Inuit, we were taught by our relatives." In this picture book, Monica Ittusardjuat shares how she learned knowledge and skills in a time before being taken to residential school. She describes how children learned through playing games, imitating grown-ups, and observing adults around them.

26 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2020

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monica Ittusardjuat does a beautiful job in Making a Whole Person of explaining how Inuit children learned before residential schools were introduced to the arctic. It's a beautiful ode to traditional education that children and adults alike will connect with and learn from. Yong Ling Kang's illustrations are lovely as well. The use of Inuktitut words was well done and the guide at the end was helpful. The historical note helps add additional context.

Recommended!

[Fahula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book does a beautiful job of setting the scene so that children can imagine what it would be like to grow up with a traditional Inuit education. It takes them though the day to day experiences, games, expectations, chores, cultural practices, and values that were a part of the traditional ways to prepare the children for adult life. These activities book’s back matter includes a glossary of terms, including pronunciation guides, as well as some photographs. The description of the games and toys invite children to experiment with these activities on their own.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Inuit author Monica Ittusardjuat shares her experiences learning from her relatives and community as a child, before she was taken to a residential school. Includes detailed examples of learning including games that taught skills like keen eyesight and fast reflexes as well as the ability to quickly make connections and decisions.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful stories of the author's childhood lessons she had before being taken from her parents and sent to a "residential school."