Megan Ungalak, a teacher at Ataguttaaluk High School in Igloolik, is an award-winning author. She is pictured here with her one-year-old daughter Emma, the youngest of her four children. (Photo courtesy of Megan Ungalak)

Igloolik writer’s short story evokes post-apocalyptic Arctic utopia

Megan Ungalak earned second place in recent Inuktuuqta! contest; plans to write a sequel next summer

By Daron Letts

It’s the year 2050. Civilization has collapsed amid war and plague. Inuksugalingmiut — residents of a fictional 26th Nunavut community — are thriving by relying on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, or Inuit traditional knowledge.

This is the post-apocalyptic Arctic described in an award-winning short story by Megan Ungalak, 30, of Igloolik. Her work earned her the second-place $10,000 prize in the third annual Inuktuuqta! Inuktut Writing Prize competition.

The awards, sponsored by Nunavut Tunngavik Foundation, recognize emerging Inuit writers who create original works in Inuktut. Ungalak accepted her prize at a gala in Iqaluit on Dec. 4, where Rankin Inlet writer Donna Adams was named first-place finisher.

“It’s an end-of-the-world story where Inuit have to live the traditional life again because there’s so much pollution and bad things happening around the world,” Ungalak said in an interview, describing her story, which runs just over 11 pages.

“The world is breaking up, but they end up living a peaceful life using Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.”

Happily ever after does not come that easily, however.

In Ungalak’s story, the narrative arc follows some antagonists who make a break for the south in search of supplies at abandoned retail stores.

“But then they end up having to be saved by the main characters in my story, and brought back on dogsleds,” she said.

The story is set in the fictional community of Inuksugalik, not so loosely based on Igloolik. The made-up hamlet borrows the name of her favourite real-life fishing spot in the Lailor Lakes, just outside Igloolik.

Ungalak’s drama unfolds like a Hollywood screenplay.

“Or a play,” she said.

Whichever medium she eventually chooses for publication, it will be part of a franchise.

“I want to write a part two for it, maybe in the summer,” Ungalak said.

“When an idea comes to me, that’s when I start. But I also like being organized and plan, so sometimes whatever I’m doing takes a while.”

A mother of four who works as a teacher at Ataguttaaluk High School in Igloolik, Ungalak makes parkas and creates other handmade winter gear for her family and for sale.

She said she has enjoyed writing since childhood but so far none of her work has been published.

Writing takes a lot of time and effort, similar to sewing, she said.

“Reading, erasing, adding, changing, editing — lots of things,” she said. “But it’s so fun.”

Share This Story

(1) Comment:

  1. Posted by Iqaluit Mom on

    As someone with a healthy obsession with this genre, and one who has lived up North, I would love to read this! Well done! I cant wait to read it!

    20
    1

Comments are closed.