New children’s book from Inuk artist showcases Labrador life through a tale of survival

By Frey Blake-Pijogge, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent

Kayla Williams’ new children’s book Aurora’s Journey tells the story of a young Inuk girl in Nunatsiavut who ventures out in a  storm to find her family after they don’t return home from hunting. 

The 34-year-old mixed-media artist, author, painter, educator, and  mother is from Happy Valley-Goose Bay and has family roots in Rigolet  and Makkovik, Nunatsiavut. She was inspired to venture into kids’  storytelling after becoming a mother and wanting her daughter and son to  see themselves in the books they read. 

“I wanted something that people in Labrador and children in Labrador  could kind of look at and maybe see themselves or their family or their  community,” Williams says during an interview at her home in Goose Bay.  “We read so many books all the time and none of it is really relative to  our lifestyle here.”

Before writing the story, Williams asked community members and elders  along the Labrador coast about survival knowledge in Nunatsiavut. “It’s  such an important part of our culture, right? Just like relying on the  knowledge of our ancestors to kind of guide us through modern day  problems.”

She says her personal experience of being Inuk has inspired her to  write, illustrate, and share stories with the world. “When I was growing  up and my mom—who’s not from here—took me to live in the city out in  Ontario, I grew up feeling really isolated out there,” Williams says. 

“I’d be pointed out in the middle of class and things like that, when  we were talking about Indigenous studies,” she recalls, “I never saw  anyone from my family or culture represented in the media […] I couldn’t  pick up a book like this and be like, ‘This is where I come from.’”

Williams says Labradorians deserve to see themselves better  represented in media, movies, TV, music and books. The artist and author  says one of her main inspirations is her relative Raeann Brown’s 2022  book Bedtime in Nunatsiavut, and that she hopes her own books help others see the possibility that they too can become an author or illustrator.

Aurora’s Journey was written in 2023 and both the  illustrations and story were finalized last summer, Williams explains,  adding it feels surreal to finally have the book out in the world. “It’s  not something that I thought was going to happen.” 

The book was released Nov. 15 and Williams hopes to hold a book launch for it and another she recently published, Labrador Skies, in the near future. Aurora’s Journey can be purchased on publisher Kegedonce Press’s website and other online retailers. Williams says it will soon also be available locally.