The First Peoples – ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ

Based on an ancient Inuit traditional story, this beautifully illustrated picture book tells of the appearance of the first humans on earth, and how from them all the peoples of the earth emerged. 


From a mound of simple dirt, through magic and intention, the world we know today slowly takes shape across the page.

ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑐᖃᖖᒋᓐᓂᒃ ᑐᖖᒐᕕᖃᖅᑐᓂ, 

ᐊᔾᔨᖖᒍᐊᑦᑎᐊᕆᒃᑐᖅ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᖅ ᓴᖅᑮᕗᖅ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ 

ᐃᓄᖖᒐᐅᑕᕕᓂᕐᓂᒃ, ᑕᐃᒪᖖᒐᓪᓗ ᐃᓄᓕᒫᑦ ᐱᒋᐊᓕᕐᓂᖅᑐᑎᒃ. 

ᓂᐊᖁᑦᑕᕐᒥᑦ, ᑲᒪᓇᖅᑐᓕᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᔪᒪᓂᒃᑯᓪᓗ, ᒪᒃᐱᒐᕐᓂᒃ 

ᐅᖃᓕᒫᖅᑎᓪᓗᑕ ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᕗᑦ ᐋᖅᑭᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓕᕐᓂᖅᐳᖅ.

Retold with loving care by Inuit author and actress Maika Harper, The First Peoples is both mythical and magical, an ancient tale brought to life for new generations.

ᐃᓄᖕᒧᑦ ᒪᐃᑲ ᕼᐋᐳᒧᑦ ᐅᖃᓕᒫᒐᓕᐅᕐᓂᑯᒧᑦ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᓂ  ᐅᓂᒃᑳᓕᖅᑭᒃᑐᓂᐅᒃ, ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᐅᔪᒦᖖᒑᖅᐳᖅ ᑲᒪᓇᖅᑐᓂᓗ, ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑐᖄᓗᒃ ᓴᖅᑭᑕᐅᔪᖅ ᓯᕗᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑕᓃᖖᒑᖅᑐᖅ.

Written by Maika Harper | Illustrated by Kaja Kajfež

Hardback (English) | ISBN: 9781772275650 | $22.95 | 9.5″ x 8.5″ | 24 pages | full-colour illustrations throughout | Ages 6-8

Paperback (Inuktitut) | ISBN: 9781772276008 | $19.95 | 9.5″ x 8.5″ | 24 pages |
full-colour illustrations throughout | Ages 6-8

Praise

“This distinctive and thought-provoking adaptation will pair well with analogous tales from around the world and spur discussion on culture and gender.”—School Library Journal

“Both young children and older readers will enjoy this story, told mostly in pictures. The First Peoples is recommended for elementary school libraries and public libraries. 5 stars out of 5.”—Polar Libraries Bulletin

“The writing is spare, yet rich with beauty. Each word is a quiet echo of something older. The illustrations, awash in vibrant colours, breathe even more magic into the tale, bringing this myth of beginnings vividly and vibrantly to life. Recommended for home, school and public libraries.”—Colette Poitras with Canadian Children’s Book News