Tuniit: Mysterious Folk of the Arctic

by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley (Illustrator), Sean Bigham (Illustrator)

Overview

Tuniit: Mysterious Folk of the Arctic is the first full-length book dedicated to providing kids with a full understanding of Tuniit, the ancient race that populated the Canadian Arctic even before Inuit. From Inuit mythological portrayals to the amazing speed and strength that make these beings so unique, this book explores the fascinating, little-known world of the Tuniit from both a mythological and an anthropological perspective.

Perfect for quizzical kids ages 9-12 who are fascinated by the unknown!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781927095768
Publisher:	Inhabit Media
Publication date:	01/19/2015
Edition description:	English Edition
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley was born at the northernmost edge of Baffin Island, in the Canadian Arctic. She grew up learning traditional survival lore from her father. She and her husband Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley were brought together by a love of nature and each other. They write Arctic speculative fiction and nonfiction for various ages.

Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley was born at the southernmost edge of Ontario, learning woodcraft from his father. He and his wife Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley were brought together by a love of nature and each other. They write Arctic speculative fiction and nonfiction for various ages.

Sean Bigham is an artist based out of London, Ontario. He works in the video games industry as a concept artist. Sean attended the Alberta College of Art and Design. Tuniit: Mysterious Folk of the Arctic is his first book.

Editorial Reviews

This is a beautiful and important book that you will want for your library.”—CM Magazine

From the Publisher

2015-04-01
Before the Inuit came to the Arctic, there were the Tuniit.The Qitsualik-Tinsleys offer readers an introduction to this prehistoric people, twining scientific findings with Inuit legend and even Inuktitut grammar to provide a window on the early Arctic. Without going into anthropological specifics, the husband-and-wife team, who include Inuit, Cree, and Mohawk in their combined heritage, introduce the notion that the Tuniit may not have been human before going on to say that they lived in settlements, originated the intricate stone cairns known as inuksuit, and were short, strong, and shy. They introduce snippets of traditional lore that claim supernatural powers for the Tuniit and that build a strong case for the eventual assimilation of the Tuniit by the encroaching Inuit. Anthropological discoveries validate the existence of the Tuniit and their disappearance as a distinct culture and genotype. Bigham contributes moody oil paintings and ink drawings; shifts in typeface seem to indicate corresponding shifts in mode that highlight the persistence of the Tuniit in Inuit legend, though this is not consistent. The authors clearly wrestle with the understanding that Inuit ancestors displaced an earlier indigenous people, introducing real poignancy to their exhortation that their readers respect the Tuniit by remembering them: "We remember a fate that no culture should have to endure." A valuable introduction to a vanished North American people, told with nuance, engagement, and rue. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews