Inuunira: My Story of Survival

ᑲᑉᐱᐊᓇᖅᑐᒦᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᓐᓇᐅᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᖅ, ᐳᕋᐃᔭᓐ ᑯᓄ ᐊᖑᓇᓱᒋᐊᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᐅᓪᓚᖅᑐᕕᓂᖅ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂ. ᖃᒧᑕᐅᔭᖏᒃ ᓱᕋᖕᒪᑎᒃ, ᒫᓃᑉᐳᖕᒑᖓ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐃᓪᓕᓪᓗᓂ, ᓱᐴᔫᖅᓯᐅᑎᖃᕈᓐᓃᓕᖅᑐᓂᓗ, ᐃᓄᑑᓪᓗᓂ ᐊᓐᓇᐅᒪᓇᓱᒋᐊᖃᓕᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᐅᓪᓗᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕕᓂᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᒪᕐᕉᖕᓂᒃ. “ᐃᓅᓂᕋ” ᑐᑭᓕᒃ “ᐆᒪᓂᕐᒥᒃ,” ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕐᓗ ᓴᖅᑭᑎᑦᑎᓂᐊᖅᐳᖅ ᐳᕋᐃᔭᓐ ᐆᒪᔪᓐᓇᕐᓂᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᖓᓂᒃ. ᐊᑐᓚᐅᖅᐳᖅ ᓂᒡᓚᓱᒃᑐᐊᓗᖕᒦᓐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐱᖅᑐᒥ, ᑳᖕᓂᕐᒥᓗ, ᓇᒃᓴᖅᓯᒪᔭᓕᒫᐸᓗᖏᓪᓗ ᐊᓯᐅᓐᓂᖅᑐᑎᒃ. ᐱᓱᒃᑐᕕᓂᖅ 60 kmᓂᒃ ᕿᓂᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᑦᑕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑦᑕᐃᓕᒪᔾᔪᑎᒥᒃ, ᐊᑐᖅᑐᓂ ᐊᑖᑕᖓᑕ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔾᔪᑎᕕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᓪᓗ–ᓇᐅᑦᑎᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᐅᓪᓗᒥᓯᐅᑎᓂᒃ ᐱᑐᖃᕐᓂᒡᓗ, ᐃᒻᒥᐅᕈᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᐅᖅᑯᐃᔪᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ, ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑕᐃᓖᓐᓇᕋᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒡᓗ–ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕋᓲᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂ. ᐊᔾᔨᖖᒍᐊᓕᒃ, ᑎᑎᖅᑐᒐᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ, ᑎᑎᕋᐅᔭᖅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ ᑎᒃᑯᖅᑑᑎᓂᒡᓗ, ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑏᑦ ᐊᒃᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᒃᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᔪᓰᓐᓇᕐᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓂᕆᐅᖕᓂᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᒡᓗ.

In this harrowing survival story, Brian Koonoo takes off on a hunting trip in Canada’s Arctic. After his snowmobile breaks down, his GPS loses signal, and his camping fuel runs low, he is left alone to survive for seven days. Inuunira is an Inuktitut term that means “how I’m alive,” and this account shows exactly how Brian managed to stay alive. He experiences close encounters with planes, blizzards, and hunger, all while much of his gear is lost. Walking 60 kilometres in search of safety, he uses the knowledge his father and Elders taught him—modern and traditional means of navigation, finding water, making shelters, and keeping his spirits up—to continue on. With photos, illustrations, and diagrams throughout, readers are sure to be inspired by this story of strong will and hope.

Written by Brian Koonoo | Illustrated by Ben Shannon

Hardcover (English) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-430-1 | $19.95 | 9.5″ x 6.5″ | 40 pages | Full-colour illustrations and photographs throughout | Ages 12+ | F&P Level X |

Paperback (Inuktitut) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-506-3 | $21.95 | 9.5″ x 6.5″ | 40 pages | Full-colour illustrations and photographs throughout | Ages 12+ | F&P Level X |

EPUB (English) | ISBN: 978-1-77227-515-5 | $15.99 | 38 pages | Full-colour illustrations and photographs throughout | Ages 12+ | F&P Level X |

Praise

“An unforgettable physical and emotional journey.”—★ Kirkus, STARRED review

“Koonoo artfully crafts an adventurous read that is equal parts appreciation for nature and Indigenous culture, and thrilling survival story.”—Publishers Weekly

“One strength of this narrative is the author’s emphasis on the traditional knowledge that enabled him to survive his ordeal when his modern conveniences (radio phone, snowmobile, sleeping bag) failed him.”—Booklist

“This true survival story showcases two powerful themes: man against nature, and traditional versus modern…Drawings, photos, and other illustrations significantly add understanding to the descriptions of the instruments and tools used by the author…This title will have particular significance for Canadians, those interested in Inuit culture, and survival enthusiasts.”—School Library Connection

“Koonoo’s story of survival will engage children of many ages…The story is well worth the read and can teach a great deal about the incredible knowledge and culture of Koonoo’s people and their life-saving traditions. Highly Recommended.”—CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Awards

Best Teen & YA Nonfiction — Kirkus commendation, 2022

Gold Medalist — IPPY Awards, Multicultural Juv-Young Adult Category, 2023