Sweetest Kulu
by Celina Kalluk & Alexandria Neonakis
Description:
Publisher's description (Inhabit Media, 2014):
This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic.
Lyrically and tenderly told by a mother speaking to her own little "Kulu," an Inuktitut term of endearment often bestowed upon babies and young children, this visually stunning book is infused with the traditional Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants. Author Celina Kalluk is Inuk.
Author biography (Inhabit Media):
Celina Kalluk was born and raised in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, to Zipporah Kalluk and Leonard Thibodeau. Celina has two brothers and five sisters, one sister-niece, and many more beautiful nieces and nephews. She also has four daughters of her own, Jazlin, Aulaja, Saima, and Ramata. She dedicates her book The Sweetest Kulu to all the mothers and fathers of this earth and to our wonderful children. Celina is also a visual artist and has illustrated several book covers and other literacy materials. Currently, she is the Inuktitut Language Specialist and Cultural Arts teacher for grades seven through twelve at Qarmartalik School in Resolute Bay. Sweetest Kulu is her first book for children.
Resource format: Picturebook
Age recommendation: Kindergarten - Grade 2
Keywords: poetry, Arctic, animals, love, culture, respect, values, Inuit, Indigenous knowledges, sun, Arctic, wind, weather, polar bear, rabbit, seal, fox, whale, seeds, flowers, plant, Snow Bunting, Hare, rock willow, water, arctic char, creativity, baby, adoration, beluga, narwhal, gifts, joy, heritage, empowerment, caribou, patience, respect, gentleness, balance, Land, learning on the land, dream
Year of publication: 2014
Publisher information: Inhabit Media
Teaching and Learning Ideas
Our team collaborated with new teachers, alumni of the Werklund School of Education’s Bachelor of Education program, to create teaching and learning plans for texts in this website. With audiences ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Post-Secondary, lesson plans across this resource address a wide range of school subject areas, inclusive approaches, and Indigenous education topics, such as the revitalization of Indigenous languages. As this website was designed with Undergraduate Programs in Education instructors, as well as teachers in mind, connections to UPE courses have been flagged on each lesson plan. These lessons are intended as a starting place for educators, to help you envision ways in which you might bring Indigenous literatures, as well as ways of knowing, being, and doing, into your teaching contexts. Please adapt, use, and share these lessons in ways that are generative for your teaching practice. We offer our sincere thanks to the dozens of new teachers who gifted us with these creative ideas!
Return to Search for Resources