Kunuuksayuukka: The Spirit of Winter Storms
An Intergenerational Book Talk, Reading & Video Showcase
Join us at the 2025 NorthWords NWT Writers Festival for an evening that honours legacy, language, and the enduring strength of Inuvialuit women. Kunuuksayuukka: The Spirit of Winter Storms gathers the words and wisdom of the late Rose Marie Iriarr̂uk Nirliq Tuuqłak Kirby—a collection rooted in the land, memory, and the spirit of the storms that shaped her.
Her granddaughters, Brianna Kirby and Aubri Kirby-Lundrigan, will be joined by Tamara Voudrach, Executive Director of Inuvialuit Communications Society, in a heartfelt conversation about the creation of this work. Brianna will reflect on the year she spent walking alongside her grandmother’s stories—through grief, joy, and deep familial love. Aubri will speak to the emotional resonance of carrying these stories forward as a granddaughter and guardian of her grandmother’s legacy.
Tamara will share the publishing journey from the organizational side, offering insight into how Inuvialuit Communications Society (ICS) helped bring this vision to life as the book’s publisher, in close collaboration with family and community.
As part of the evening, the team will screen a selection of educational videos created alongside the book—powerful visual companions that deepen the understanding of Rose Marie’s story and the cultural context it emerges from.
A live reading by Brianna will offer a tender moment of remembrance—she will share a passage from the book that speaks to her spirit, in honour of her grandmother’s voice.
The evening will conclude with a Question & Answer session, opening space for dialogue, reflection, and shared connection.
As NorthWords marks its 20th anniversary, this event stands as a tribute to true Northern storytelling, intergenerational strength, and the beauty of stories carried forward in word, image, and heart.
