Kinauvit? What's Your Name? The Eskimo Disc System and a Daughter's Search for her Grandmother

Norma Dunning's investigation into Canada's Eskimo Disc System begins with her quest to learn about her grandmother's identity. The system, implemented from 1941-1978, assigned numbered discs to Inuit people in place of their names. Through archival research and interviews, Dunning reconstructs the history of this federal identification program and its impact on Inuit communities. Her work documents the experiences of disc-wearers and their descendants, revealing stories that were previously untold. The book combines historical documentation with personal narrative as Dunning searches for information about her own family. She examines government records, photographs, and firsthand accounts to piece together the scope of the disc system's implementation. This work connects individual family histories to broader themes of colonialism and Indigenous identity in Canada. The narrative raises questions about naming, belonging, and the long-term effects of government policies on Indigenous communities.

Readers highlight the book's personal narrative approach to documenting the Inuit disc system, with many appreciating how Dunning weaves her family's story into the larger historical context. Several reviews note the emotional impact of learning about this identification method used by the Canadian government. Likes: - Clear explanations of complex historical policies - Balance of academic research and personal storytelling - Inclusion of original documents and photographs - Strong Indigenous perspective Dislikes: - Some readers found certain sections repetitive - A few noted the narrative can be hard to follow chronologically Ratings: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (based on 41 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.7/5 (based on 15 reviews) One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The author's personal connection makes this difficult history more accessible and meaningful." An Amazon reviewer noted: "Important documentation of a dehumanizing system that needed to be exposed."

Sanaaq by Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk A woman's first-hand account of daily Inuit life in 1950s Arctic Quebec captures traditional customs, family relationships, and cultural practices through interconnected stories.

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq This blend of memoir and fiction follows a young Inuk girl's coming-of-age in Nunavut while exploring themes of identity, colonialism, and connection to ancestral knowledge.

The Right to Be Cold by Sheila Watt-Cloutier An Inuk woman's memoir chronicles her journey from traditional Arctic life to international environmental advocacy while documenting the impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities.

We All Expected to Die: Spanish Influenza in Labrador, 1918-1919 by Anne Budgell A historical account reconstructs the devastating impact of the Spanish flu on Labrador's Inuit communities through archival records and oral histories.

Barren Grounds by David Robertson Two Indigenous children discover their connection to traditional knowledge and community history through time travel to a Northern community in the past.

🔹 Author Norma Dunning spent seven years researching and writing this deeply personal book while simultaneously pursuing her PhD in Indigenous Peoples Education at the University of Alberta. 🔹 The Eskimo Identification Tag System, implemented by the Canadian government from 1941-1978, assigned numbered discs to Inuit people because officials claimed traditional names were too difficult to pronounce and record. 🔹 Each disc bore a unique number preceded by either "E" for East or "W" for West, indicating which side of the Northwest Territories the person lived in, effectively replacing names with codes like "E7-121." 🔹 The author's grandmother, Alice Klengenberg, was forcibly relocated from Coppermine (now Kugluktuk) to a tuberculosis sanatorium in Edmonton, where she later died - a fate shared by many Inuit during this period. 🔹 The book's title "Kinauvit" means "Who are you?" in Inuktitut, highlighting the central theme of identity and the profound impact of colonial naming practices on Inuit culture and family connections.