Minds On
Let’s warm up!
Don’t forget to do your safety check!
Warm Up
Warm up
Find a comfortable position and take a deep breath in through your nose.
Slowly start to blow out through your mouth. Pretend you are blowing up a huge balloon. Once your balloon is as big as it can be, let it go! Then take another deep breath in and blow up another balloon!
Access the next audio recording entitled “Balloon Breathing Activity” to follow this exercise.
Balloon Breathing Activity
Let’s get started
Sweetest Kulu
Explore the image below. Who are some of the characters in the story?
Press ‘Characters’ to access a definition of the word characters.
Characters are the people and/or animals in a drama. In a play, actors learn about their character’s thoughts and feelings. Then, they act out their character by choosing how that character would move and/or speak. The actor might wear a specific costume and use props to help the audience understand their character.
Action
Get ready, get set…
Before you read the story Sweetest Kulu by an Inuk author, you will explore throat singing.
Go!
Inuit throat singing
Sweetest Kulu was written by an Inuk author named Celina Kalluk. She was born and raised in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Celina is also a visual artist and a famous throat singer.
Explore the first Raven’s Quest video entitled “Papatsie 1,” where Papatsie explains what throat singing is.
Explore the second Raven’s Quest video entitled “Papatsie 2,” where Papatsie performs throat singing in front of friends.
What did you learn from Papatsie and her friend Kendal about throat singing?
Press ‘Answer’ to learn what they said about throat singing.
Throat singing is a friendly competition between two women. You win when you make the other person laugh.
Sweetest Kulu
Let’s explore Celina Kalluk’s story Sweetest Kulu.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
In Canada, the Inuit homeland is called Inuit Nunangat, which includes Nunavut, Inuvialuit (the coasts of the Northwest Territories and the Yukon), Nunavik (Northern Quebec), and Nunatsiavut (Newfoundland and Labrador).
The Inuit are original people from the Arctic and northern regions of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Greenland.
Inuktitut is a language spoken by the Inuit.
As we work towards Truth and Reconciliation, information about lands and territories is constantly being updated. This map was accessed through the permission terms of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami in March 2022.
A map of the Inuit Nunangat across the provinces and territories of Canada. The Inuvialuit territory covers a small portion of northern Yukon and the islands in the northern half of the Northwest territory. The Nunavut territory is in Nunavut. The Nunavik territory covers northern Quebec. The Nunatsiavut territory is found in northern Labrador.
Before you begin, think about how you might be a good audience member while exploring the story.
Explore the following pages from Sweetest Kulu.
Description
Page One and Two: A sleeping baby being held by an adult against their chest.
Page Three and Four: A deer looks out at a body of water and some mountains while leaves blow in the wind.
Page Five and Six: A baby being visited by a polar beer, a deer, an Arctic hare, a fox, and a beluga whale.
Explore the story in Inuktitut.
Sweetest Kulu in Inuktitut: page 1 to 6
Explore the story in English.
Sweetest Kulu in English: page 1 to 6
How do the descriptions of the Summer and Wind make you feel?
Who is telling the story? How do you know?
Press ‘Answer’ to learn who is telling the story and how to know.
Kulu’s mother holds Kulu on the first page of the story. Kulu’s mother is telling the story.
What types of animals visit Kulu? Why are they coming to meet Kulu?
Press ‘Answer’ to learn the types of animals and why they are coming.
The Arctic animals come to see Kulu. They want to meet Kulu and welcome Kulu to their home.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
Kulu is an Inuktitut word that shows love. It is used for babies and young children.
Read the following pages from Sweetest Kulu.
Description
Page One and Two: A flock of snow buntings bring flowers to a baby lying in a field.
Page Three and Four: An Arctic hare cuddles a baby.
Page Five and Six: A fox visits a yawning baby, who is on the ground. They're surrounded by flowers and plants.
Explore the story in Inuktitut.
Sweetest Kulu in Inuktitut: page 7 to 12
Explore the story in English.
Sweetest Kulu in English: page 7 to 12
What type of animals are snow buntings? Press ‘Answer’ to learn the type of animals they are.
Snow buntings are birds.
What are the snow buntings bringing Kulu? Press ‘Answer’ to learn what the snow buntings are bringing.
They are bringing Kulu flowers for Kulu to plant and grow.
Who has come to visit Kulu next? Press ‘Answer’ to learn who came next to visit.
Arctic Hare came to visit Kulu.
What do you notice about Kulu’s clothes? Press ‘Answer’ to learn about the clothes.
Kulu is wearing a parka to keep them warm. It might be cold where Kulu lives.
Who has come to visit Kulu next? Press ‘Answer’ to learn who came next to visit.
Arctic Fox came to visit Kulu. Arctic Fox wanted Kulu to wake up and enjoy the beautiful day.
What do you notice about the background? Press ‘Answer’ to learn about the background.
There are flowers and leaves in the background.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
The flower plant in the background is called woolly lousewort or ugjungnaq in Inuktitut. The Inuit use plants, like this one, as medicine and food. They understand which plants are important and give thanks and protect the land for its gifts.
Read more of the pages from Sweetest Kulu.
Description
Page One and Two: A baby touches the water with their hand and their reflection can be seen. An Arctic char swims towards the baby's hand.
Page Three and Four: A group of seals swim together in a large body of water.
Page Five and Six: A baby swims underwater and is visited by a narwhal and a beluga whale.
Explore the story in Inuktitut.
Sweetest Kulu in Inuktitut: page 13 to 18
Explore the story in English.
Sweetest Kulu in English: page 13 to 18
What is Kulu doing in the picture? Press ‘Answer’ to learn what Kulu is doing.
Kulu is resting their hand on the water.
How might Kulu share their thoughts with the Arctic Char? Press ‘Answer’ to learn about the interaction with Arctic Char.
Kulu makes the water move gently with their hand. Maybe Arctic Char can feel this.
What do you notice about the picture? Press ‘Answer’ to learn about the interaction with Seals.
The seals are swimming through the water. Their tails are creating small waves.
What is Kulu doing in the picture? Press ‘Answer’ to learn what Kulu is doing.
Kulu is swimming in the water.
Who has come to visit Kulu next? Press ‘Answer’ to learn who visits Kulu next.
Narwhal and Beluga came to visit Kulu. They are teaching Kulu to swim.
Read the following pages from Sweetest Kulu.
Description
Page One and Two: A muskox sits in a field with a baby while the herd forms a circle around them.
Page Three and Four: A caribou looks to the sky while a baby sits on its back.
Page Five and Six: An adult polar bear cuddles a baby while a baby polar visits the baby.
Explore the story in Inuktitut.
Sweetest Kulu in Inuktitut: page 19 to 24
Explore the story in English.
Sweetest Kulu in English: page 19 to 24
How could we describe the Muskox? Press ‘Answer’ to learn how Muskox can be described.
Muskox has a big body and strong legs. Muskox is covered in fur.
What are Muskox and Kulu doing? Press ‘Answer’ to learn what Muskox and Kulu are doing.
The Muskox and Kulu are lying down and playing.
Caribou has come to visit Kulu. How does Kulu greet Caribou? Press ‘Answer’ to learn how Kulu greets Caribou.
Kulu hugs and snuggles Caribou.
What are the polar bears doing with Kulu? Press ‘Answer’ to learn what the polar bears are doing with Kulu.
A big polar bear holds Kulu gently while a baby polar bear plays with Kulu.
Read the following pages from Sweetest Kulu.
Description
Page One and Two: A swaddled baby sleeps while being surrounded by grass and white flowers.
Page Three and Four: A baby sleeps on a bed of white and purple flowers while being held by an adult.
Explore the story in Inuktitut.
Sweetest Kulu in Inuktitut: page 25 to 28
Explore the story in English.
Sweetest Kulu in English: page 25 to 28
Where do Kulu and their family live? Press ‘Answer’ to learn where Kulu lives.
Kulu and their family are from an Inuit community. There are many Inuit communities in the Inuit homeland called Inuit Nunangat, the Arctic region of Canada.
What is the relationship between Kulu and the animals? Press ‘Answer’ to learn the animals’ relationship with Kulu.
Kulu shows love and respect to the animals, and the animals show love and respect to Kulu.
Explore the audio of Celina Kalluk throat singing.
Celina Kalluk throat singing
How do you feel while listening to the audio clip?
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Think about the story Sweetest Kulu.
What was your favourite part of the story? Why?
Tell your thoughts to a partner, draw a picture, or create an audio recording. Complete My Favourite Part in your drama portfolio or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts in your drama portfolio.
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My favourite part of the story Sweetest Kulu was (Blank)(Blank) because (Blank)(Blank)(Blank)(Blank) . |
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the My Favourite Part.
Reflection
Portfolio
Drama portfolio
Consider adding the answers to the following reflection questions to your drama portfolio.
- Why do the animals come to visit Kulu?
- Are there any stories or lullabies that you share with your friends or family?
- What did you do to be a good audience member when exploring the story Sweetest Kulu?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.