The Scarf and the Butterfly

Theres an opening above me, but its far, and I have to stack up rocks to jump up, and its almost impossible to get out. Thats when I realized that I was stripped of my identity, and there was nothing of my culture left in me. It was like I wasnt in my body anymore. It was bare and desolate and empty and cold, lifeless in my body. Where was I? Where had I gone?

In this visceral graphic memoir, Monica Ittusardjuat brings readers with her from residential school classrooms to government apologies on her journey to rediscovering what it means to be Inuk. Born prematurely in an iglu on Baffin Island, Monica attended three residential schools over eleven years. She details her resulting struggles with addiction, mental health, and domestic violence, which haunted her into adulthood.

Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, Monicäs memoir is a testimony to the lasting impacts of residential schools and one womans fight to reclaim what she lost.

The Scarf and the Butterfly is a stunning new addition to Qinuisaarniq ("resiliency"), a collection of books created to educate readers about the history and impacts of residential schools. Each book in this collection has been carefully written and reviewed to include level-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about colonial acts and policies that have affected Inuit. These acts and policies created long-lasting impacts on Inuit individuals and communities, which are still being felt today.