Niqinniliurningmik by B. Memogana

Abstract

Memogana, B., translator. Niqinniliurningmik. Inuivialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2016. This small book, with its simple drawings and text accomplishes three things. It helps preserve and encourage use of the Inuvialuktun language and dialects. It situates learning materials in the day-to-day life of the children using the materials, and it preserves and passes on traditional knowledge to younger generations. Kangiryuarmiutun is one of three Inuvialuktun dialects. This volume, in Kangiryuarmiutun with English translation at the end, describes and shows the process of making dried fish. The target audience for this book is young children. The text is brief and in large print, but you really do not need the text to understand the content. Roberta Memogana’s simple pencil crayon figures stand against stark white backgrounds, each page showing a step in the fish preparation process: catching, cleaning, salting, drying, smoking and eating. The figure is a woman in a parka, often kneeling, using an ulu, or “woman’s knife”, to prepare the fish. This book should be included in school and public libraries where Inuvialuktun is spoken as well as in collections that specialize in polar children’s literature.Highly Recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.