IMAGINATION'S LEGACY
A Celebration of Literature for Children and Young Adults
Calgary Convention Centre ~ October 3-5, 1996 ~ Calgary, Alberta

Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak

Arvaarluk's inspiration comes from the storytelling tradition of his family. As a young boy living in Repulse Bay, he spent time travelling by dogＵeam, living in igloos and sod huts. He went to sleep to the stories and legends shared by the family at night.

His early education was at boarding school where he was away from his family for a whole year. The next year, when the plane came to return the students to school, he hid away and missed the flight which allowed him to play hooky until the next school year began.

Today Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak lives in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, (NWT) where he writes in a large shed next door to his home. His first book, A Promise is a Promise, was a collaboration with Robert Munsch who had heard his stories and encouraged him to write them down. His book Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails won the 1994 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award. On his tours across the country he writes, tells stories and plays string games to entertain his audiences.

Selective Bibliography:

Baseball Bats for Christmas, Annick Press, 1990.
Hide and Sneak, Annick Press, 1992.
Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails, Annick Press, 1993.
A Promise Is a Promise (with Robert Munsch), Annick Press, 1988.

Kaleidoscope 6 Presenters

Wednesday, July 17, 1996
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