Nunavik students’ work featured in Quebec literary anthology

Kangiqsujuaq’s Arsaniq School teacher Aurora Gibbons stands with three of her students featured in the latest edition of Quebec Roots, an anthology of Quebeçois students’ writing and photography, at a book launch April 15 in Montreal. From left are: Gibbons, Markusie Alaku, 14, Kaudjak Alaku, 16, and Adamie Alaku, 17. (PHOTO BY DAVID MURPHY)

Shirley Sakiagak of Kangiqsujuaq is one of the featured photos in the 10th edition of Quebec Roots. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE METROPOLIS FOUNDATION)

Here’s a photo by student Charlie Alaku featured in this year’s version of Quebec Roots literary anthology. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUE METROPOLIS FOUNDATION)

SPECIAL TO NUNATSIAQ NEWS

MONTREAL — Twenty Nunavik high school students can now add author and photographer to their resumés.

The 10th edition of Quebec Roots, an anthology of stories and photos from students about their home communities in Quebec, was released April 15 during the Blue Metropolis literacy festival in Montreal.

Two of the seven schools featured in this edition of the book are from Nunavik — Kangiqsujuaq’s Arsaniq School and Kuujjuaraapik’s Asimauttaq School.

“Do you know what it means to get published in an anthology? It means you’re more than a high school student. More than a teenager. You’re more than your parent’s kid. You’re a published author,” said host Shelley Pomerance, at the book launch.

Three contributors from Kangiqsujuaq made their way to Montreal for the event — one being 16-year-old Kaudjak Alaku, who read her story to the crowd.

“It was so shocking, and I was so shy and shaking. My hands were shaking a lot,” Alaku said, smiling and laughing after the event.

Alaku wrote about Pingualuit, the national park, in her story titled: ‘Kangiqsujuaq Is My Hometown.’

“The inspiration came to me when I went to Pingualuit for the first time, how I experienced it, and it was amazing,” Alaku said.

In her story, Alaku wrote: “During the summer time, you could go hiking to the crater, fish in the rivers and lakes, kayaking, star-gazing and go berry picking.”

Her teacher Aurora Gibbons said nature was a constant theme that came up during the creative process in making the stories — and it wasn’t surprising.

“I feel that my students have a strong connection to the land. And I wasn’t surprised to see it reflected in their work,” Gibbons said.

But what did surprise her was the photography.

“I knew my students were strong writers because they’re really a good group. But with the photography I was really surprised because I didn’t know — I had never seen some of their photos taken with good quality cameras,” Gibbons said.

“So I was surprised about what they were actually able to do. Plus just to see it from the teenagers perspective, it was really interesting,” she said.

Each school had help from a mentor, and photographer Thomas Kneubühler flew up to both Kuujjuaraapik and Kangiqsujuaq to help the students.

“What we’re interested in is getting their perspective, as opposed to photographers flying from outside into a community, who is a total alien,” Kneubühler said.

“I always tell kids they can take better pictures of the community than I ever could too because — they know that place. They have that inside view,” Kneubühler said.

“These days there’s so many misconceptions about the North and I find it so amazing when you go in these communities and what comes back through the students, through that project,” he said.

This edition of Quebec Roots features iconic images of both communities: an iceberg with the town in the background, the northern lights over the community, and many images of Nunavimmiut.

Kneubühler said all but three communities have so far contributed to past editions of the annual anthology. Salluit, Tasiujaq and Quaqtaq are up next.

Kneubühler added that the Kativik School Board is considering the possibility of publishing a book of stories and photos exclusively from Nunavik schools.