Jaypeetee Arnakak is a linguist, translator, and educator. He spent many years as an editor and has also adapted several Traditional Inuit Stories into children's storybooks. The Woman and Her Bear Cub examines how acts of kindness and generosity are an important part of being human. The family adopts a young cub and cares for it until it reaches an age where it can care for itself. This story draws the reader in, and the illustrations throughout the book paint a vibrant and beautiful Arctic landscape for all to enjoy. This story is full of authentic compassion for those in need. It serves as a valuable lesson in kindness, love, and the importance of saying goodbye when the time has come and doing what is right. This is a beautiful story to share with children.

Other End Matter: Inuktitut Glossary
Images: Colour illustrations
Contributor Affiliation: Author Jaypeetee Arnakak (Inuit), Illustrator Dayna B. Griffiths
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Source: Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools

Jaypetee is an Inuit linguist (one of only two Inuit linguists in Canada), and Inuit educator. Most of Jaypetee's career has been about the Inuit language. At Nunavut Tunngavik and later at Qikiqtani Inuit Association, he served as an Inuit Language and Education policy analyst and engaged in Inuit language and education discourse at the regional, territorial, and national levels as an analyst, commentator and advocate for Inuit language and education rights. He has also worked for the Nunavut Arctic College as an Adult Basic Education instructor, an Inuit Language instructor, and as an instructor for the Interpreter/Translator Program. He currently works full-time for Inhabit Education, Toronto Office, as a Senior Inuit Language Advisor and is involved in Nunavut curriculum development and as a designer/deliverer of Inuit language courses. He was also recently appointed as an executive director for NBES.

Jaypeetee Arnakak's profile page

Dayna B. Griffiths is a multidisciplinary artist and designer with a passion for visual storytelling and problem-solving. She works primarily in the animation industry, on children’s programming, and finds joy in collaborating to develop imagery that supports a meaningful narrative. Dayna has spent her life creating in many mediums, but always feels most satisfied with a brush in hand, whether it's for ink or paint. She is based in Toronto, Ontario.

Dayna B. Griffiths' profile page

This story draws the reader in, and the illustrations throughout the book paint a vibrant and beautiful Arctic landscape for all to enjoy. This story is full of authentic compassion for those in need. It serves as a valuable lesson in kindness, love, and the importance of saying goodbye when the time has come and doing what is right. This is a beautiful story to share with children.

Books BC - Indigenous Books for Schools

Adopting a lost animal and caring for it until care is no longer necessary is a story for all times. Here, a polar bear and an Arctic landscape may make this story unique, but its premise is grounded in the authenticity of compassion for those in need and dictated only by the one most affected. It is a lesson in selflessness and benevolence and a true reflection of the graciousness of Inuit values.