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“Uluit Atuqtaatka” is the first in a new series of children’s books written and illustrated by Nome resident Kunaq Tahbone. The new book, translated in English to “Ulus I Use” was unveiled at a book reading event at Nome’s Katirvik Cultural Center Wednesday.
Tahbone and collaborator Kiminaq Alvanna-Stimpfle took turns reading each page of the book in Iñupiaq and English to a group of children gathered on the floor.
“Qanusinikliġaa ulunik atuġatugut uaptinni,” Alvanna-Stimpfle began.
“We use many kinds of ulus in my home,” Tahbone said.
An ulu is a traditional knife that takes many shapes and sizes, so many that Tahbone watercolored five unique ulu shapes for five unique tasks.
“Una ulu atuġaigia aġiliama maktamiklu quamiklu,” Alvanna-Stimpfle read aloud.
“I use this ulu when I cut maktak and quaq,” Tahbone said.
After the reading, Tahbone explained that each ulu featured in the book was modeled after one of her own.
“This one was made by my great grandfather. So they're all ulus that I use. This one is one a really fun that I like to use for sewing too,” she told the crowd.
Alvanna-Stimpfle was joined by her mother, Yaayuk Alvanna-Stimpfle. The retired Iñupiaq educator helped with translations for the book.
“I was raised with an Iñupiaq mind and Iñupiaq brain until I heard English at age five. So to me, when I do this work, content is very important,” Yaayuk Alvanna-Stimpfle said to the group. “It comes from our language. It comes from our heart.”
Tahbone said inspiration for the book came during COVID. During a trip to the Philippines she purchased a watercolor set and began crafting the illustrations featured in the book.
“It feels like always somebody saying, ‘we need more books. We need more children’s books. We need books in Iñupiaq’,” Tahbone explained. “And I'm like, ‘Yeah, we do. And then I was like, well, who's gonna do them? I might as well write one’.”
On a table in the back of the room were copies of the book along with piling plates of black and white maktak and 3D-printed ulus made by Aluqtuq Theonnes, an incoming freshman from Noorvik that now lives in Oregon.
As the event winded down, Tahbone said Kawerak helped produce an initial run of 900 books and teased that more were coming.
“You guys can go ahead and grab one, grab a book, and I'll grab a pen, and I could sign it if you want,” Tahbone said, tongue-in-cheek.
Copies of “Uluit Atuqtaatka” are available locally at Kawerak and online at Barnes & Noble's website.
