Monica Ittusardjuat’s graphic memoir is a powerful narrative that chronicles her experiences as an Inuk girl. Her journey through the residential school system and beyond is a poignant depiction of trauma, survival, and the quest for reconciliation. The memoir, rich in visual storytelling, captures the stark realities faced by Indigenous children in residential schools, while also highlighting the enduring hope and resilience of the human spirit. It serves as a testament to the long and ongoing process of healing and understanding needed to address the deep scars left by such institutions.

The reality of long-awaited apologies from the government and the church has provided some measure of solace to residential school Survivors, though many are left with lingering questions and unresolved pain. Ittusardjuat had the opportunity to meet privately with the pope during his visit. She emphasizes that while the apology is a significant step, tangible actions are necessary to demonstrate the sincerity of the words.

Cautions / Content Warnings: This narrative should be approached with caution, as traumatic events and harsh realities may be triggering to some readers.
Other End Matter: Inuktut glossary
Images: Colour photographs, colour illustrations
Contributor Affiliation: Author Monica Ittusardjuat (Inuit), Illustrators Coco Apunnguaq Lynge & Scott Plumbe
Bibliography: Yes
Index: No

Evaluator: Debra H., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools

Monica Ittusardjuat was taken from her parents and sent to residential school at the age of seven, at a time when Inuit lived a subsistence way of life in winter camps and roamed around in spring and summer, following animals when they were plentiful. She went to three residential schools: Chesterfield Inlet, NWT (now Nunavut), for primary school, Churchill, Manitoba, for junior high, and St. Norbert, Manitoba, for high school. Monica graduated from McGill University in 1987. While teaching Community NTEP (Nunavut Teacher Education Program) in Nunavut, she earned her M.Ed. through the University of Prince Edward Island. She was the honour student for Baffin Island. She taught for many years in elementary schools, high schools, and teacher education programs, as well as in the Interpreter/Translator Program at Nunavut Arctic College. Monica tried to retire at the age of 60, but the habit of going to work was hard to break. She was the National Inuit Language Coordinator at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami from 2016 to 2018 and is now Senior Inuktitut Editor at Inhabit Education, which she describes as her dream job.

 

Monica Ittusardjuat's profile page

Coco Apunnguaq Lynge is a Kalaaleq/Danish illustrator and artist. She was born in Greenland and raised in Denmark, which has made her long for her Greenlandic roots. This longing often expresses itself through her personal work. She is a graduate of The Animation Workshop in Denmark, and has also studied multimedia and fashion design.

Coco Apunnguaq Lynge's profile page

Scott Plumbe has camped inside an ancient Roman amphitheater, trekked around Mount Kailash in Tibet, and walked to the source of the Ganges River in India. He has traveled in manycountries, including Egypt, Syria, Iran, Morocco, and Japan, which gave him rich experiences to draw on while illustrating the stories in Bodyguards!When he’s not painting at his desk in Vancouver, British Columbia, Scott can often be found with his wife and young son in the local Chinese gardens, or sipping tea and planning their next trip.

Scott Plumbe's profile page

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Monica Ittusardjuat’s graphic memoir is a powerful narrative that chronicles her experiences as an Inuk girl. Her journey through the residential school system and beyond is a poignant depiction of trauma, survival, and the quest for reconciliation. The memoir, rich in visual storytelling, captures the stark realities faced by Indigenous children in residential schools, while also highlighting the enduring hope and resilience of the human spirit. It serves as a testament to the long and ongoing process of healing and understanding needed to address the deep scars left by such institutions.

The reality of long-awaited apologies from the government and the church has provided some measure of solace to residential school Survivors, though many are left with lingering questions and unresolved pain. Ittusardjuat had the opportunity to meet privately with the pope during his visit. She emphasizes that while the apology is a significant step, tangible actions are necessary to demonstrate the sincerity of the words.

Debra H., Elementary School Teacher, Indigenous Books for Schools