Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk

Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk

Google Honors the Inuit Author and Historian

On its homepage, Google pays tribute to the late Inuit author and historian Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk. She was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2004, three years before her passing in Kangiqsujuaq, Nunavik. Nappaaluk's contributions to Inuit literature and culture are immeasurable, and her legacy lives on through her works.

The Life and Legacy of Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk

Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk was born in 1931 in the Nunavik region of Quebec. She grew up in a traditional Inuit community and later attended a residential school in the south. Nappaaluk's experiences in both worlds informed her writing, which often dealt with the challenges faced by Inuit people in a rapidly changing world.

Nappaaluk's most famous work is Sivunittinni: My First Years at School, an autobiographical novel that tells the story of an Inuit girl's experiences in a residential school. The book was first published in Inuktitut in 1978 and has since been translated into English and French. Nappaaluk's other works include Nakurmiik! Thank You!, a collection of Inuit legends, and Unikkaaqtuat: An Introduction to Traditional Inuit Myths and Legends.

Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk's contributions to Inuit literature and culture continue to be celebrated today. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and have been taught in schools across Canada. Nappaaluk's legacy serves as an inspiration to Inuit writers and artists, and her impact on Inuit culture will be felt for generations to come.