New children’s book Natchiq Grows Up weaves Indigenous Knowledge, Iñupiaq terms, & scientific findings about ringed seals

By donnahauser | December 20, 2023

A new children’s book, Natchiq Grows Up: The Story of a Ringed Seal Pup and Her Changing Home, was released in December 2023. Check out this cute little seal pup, Natchiq, and her story of growing up in her snow cave (or “lair”) on the sea ice in northern Alaska with her mom Siku. Indigenous Knowledge, Iñupiaq terms, & scientific findings are woven throughout.

Lead author Donna Hauser was partially supported by AAOKH in the development of this book along with co-authors and mentors Kathy Frost & Alex Whiting. Indigenous Knowledge was generously shared by Iñupiaq Elders John Goodwin, Cyrus Harris, and Pearl Goodwin from Qikiqtaġruk (Kotzebue). Heather McFarland put together incredible illustrations that peek inside a ringed seal lair, a rarely viewed time in a ringed seal’s life. Additional funding for this project was provided by the North Pacific Research Board.

A combination of photos and illustrations are used to tell the story of Natchiq the ringed seal pup and her mom Natchiq in the book *Natchiq Grows Up*, available from University Press of Colorado and University of Alaska Press: https://upcolorado.com/university-of-alaska-press/item/6434-natchiq-grows-up. Photo by Donna D.W. Hauser, included in the book.

The book is available for purchase, with any royalties going to a fund for youth programs at the Native Village of Kotzebue. A set of free books will be distributed to youth and schools in Alaska’s northern coastal communities in the new year.

Posted in AAOKH News, education & outreach, ice seals, Indigenous Knowledge, publication, resources, sea ice, snow