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Kihiani: A Memoir of Healing
Profoundly honest and moving, Kihiani is the uplifting story of an Inuk artist’s journey to healing and self-discovery
Born in Fort Churchill, Manitoba, but raised in Arviat, a predominantly Inuit community on the western edges of Hudson Bay, Susan and her six siblings grew up in a humble but loving home. But while living in Rankin Inlet, when she was eight years old, Susan’s life was disrupted by a life-changing event, a distinct separation that created a schism inside her for many years and from which she continues to heal.
At fifteen, she started writing poems that spilled out of her, and when Susan had the choice to leave her community, she grabbed it like a lifeline. Eventually, Susan was approached by a producer at CBC who was making a compilation album of Arctic artists and years later signed with a major label for her third album, This Child.
The disruption and milestones, the turmoil and joy, the devastation and healing—this is Susan Aglukark’s story of discovering her Inuk self.
Born in Fort Churchill, Manitoba, but raised in Arviat, a predominantly Inuit community on the western edges of Hudson Bay, Susan and her six siblings grew up in a humble but loving home. But while living in Rankin Inlet, when she was eight years old, Susan’s life was disrupted by a life-changing event, a distinct separation that created a schism inside her for many years and from which she continues to heal.
At fifteen, she started writing poems that spilled out of her, and when Susan had the choice to leave her community, she grabbed it like a lifeline. Eventually, Susan was approached by a producer at CBC who was making a compilation album of Arctic artists and years later signed with a major label for her third album, This Child.
The disruption and milestones, the turmoil and joy, the devastation and healing—this is Susan Aglukark’s story of discovering her Inuk self.
Audible Audio
Published September 2, 2025
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About the author
Susan Aglukark
11 books6 followersSusan Aglukark (ᓲᓴᓐ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ ) is an award-winning Inuit singer-songwriter known for blending the Inuktitut and English languages with contemporary pop music arrangements to tell the stories of her people. Born in Churchill, Manitoba in 1967, she was raised in Arviat, Nunavut (then Northwest Territories). She worked for a time as a linguist with the Department of Indian & Northern Affairs, and then returned to the Northwest Territories to work as an executive assistant with the non-profit Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. It was during this period that she began to sing, becoming a popular performer in Inuit communities, and eventually drawing the attention of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and eventually winning a deal with a major record label.
Aglukark's music has drawn upon painful subjects from her own life experience, from the suicide of her niece to her own experiences as a survivor of sexual abuse. She has honorary doctorates from several universities and has performed for many Canadian and international dignitaries. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in June 2016. She lives in Oakville, Ontario.
(source: Wikipedia)
Aglukark's music has drawn upon painful subjects from her own life experience, from the suicide of her niece to her own experiences as a survivor of sexual abuse. She has honorary doctorates from several universities and has performed for many Canadian and international dignitaries. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and was awarded the Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in June 2016. She lives in Oakville, Ontario.
(source: Wikipedia)
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November 13, 2025Kihiani…because we must!
A touching memoir that shows how trauma can impact a person’s entire life. And that no matter how successful a person is, all that glitters isn’t gold. I enjoyed learning more about the Inuit way of life, and being reminded how global warming is impacting it. The book also powerfully exposes the harsh realities of how Indigenous people in Canada were mistreated by the government, making it both emotional and educational. Susan writes from the heart and vulnerably.
A touching memoir that shows how trauma can impact a person’s entire life. And that no matter how successful a person is, all that glitters isn’t gold. I enjoyed learning more about the Inuit way of life, and being reminded how global warming is impacting it. The book also powerfully exposes the harsh realities of how Indigenous people in Canada were mistreated by the government, making it both emotional and educational. Susan writes from the heart and vulnerably.
December 27, 2025
Audiobook read by the author- I love this! A must listen for Canadians, especially for those who grew up listening to her music and are naive to or curious about Inuit strength and resilience.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews