Matilda Sulurayok is an elder who resides in Arviat, Nunavut. She was born and raised on the land near Chesterfield Inlet, Nunavut. She was raised by her parents and her grandmother, and she remembers much of what her grandmother taught her. Matilda’s family lived a traditional life and raised several sled dogs. Kamik’s First Sled is the first book to be based on Matilda’s memories of traditional dog rearing. Matilda worked at the Andy Aulatjut Elder Centre as a caregiver for many years before she retired. She is a talented seamstress and enjoys sewing. She loves working with sealskins and makes beautiful kamiks.
Qin Leng was born in Shanghai and lived in France and Montreal. She now lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. Her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and it became second nature for her to express herself through art. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. Qin has always loved to illustrate the innocence of children and has developed a passion for children’s books. She has illustrated numerous picture books for publishers in Canada, the United States, and South Korea.
