Becoming Inummarik: Men's Lives in an Inuit Community (Volume 73)

by Peter Collings

What does it mean to become a man in the Arctic today? Becoming Inummarik focuses on the lives of the first generation of men born and raised primarily in permanent settlements. Forced to balance the difficulties of schooling, jobs, and money that are a part of village life with the conflicting demands of older generations and subsistence hunting, these men struggle to chart their life course and become inummariit - genuine people. Peter Collings presents an accessible, intelligent, humorous, and sensitive account of Inuit men who are no longer youths, but not yet elders. Based on over twenty years of research conducted in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories, Becoming Inummarik is a profound and nuanced look at contemporary Inuit life that shows not just what Inuit men do, but who they are. Collings recounts experiences from his immersion in the daily lives of Ulukhaktok's men - from hunting and sharing meals to playing cards and grocery shopping - to demonstrate how seemingly mundane activities provide revelations about complex issues such as social relationships, status, and maturity. He also reflects on the ethics of immersive anthropological research, the difficulties of balancing professional and personal relationships with informants, and the nature of knowledge in Inuit culture. Becoming Inummarik shows that while Inuit born into a modern society see themselves as different from their parents' generation, their adherence to traditional ideas about life ensures that they remain fully Inuit even as their community has witnessed drastic upheaval.

Genres: Nonfiction

424 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and insightful, you get the full advantage of the author’s 20+ years of experience.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the McGill-Queen’s Native & Northern Series of books, this fascinating study of Inuit life uncovers a society that is having to come to terms with the demands of contemporary society whilst also holding on to all that is worthwhile from the life lived by their forebears. Based on 20 years of intense research, the author focusses in particularly on the first generation of young men who have been born and raised in permanent settlements and who have often become alienated from the societal expectations that would once have been made on them. This critical look at how they balance all those often conflicting demands and how they manage to become Inummariit – genuine people - makes for some very interesting and thought-provoking reading. Although primarily a work of serious anthropological and ethnographical study, the writing is accessible enough for the general reader to enjoy and if on occasion Peter Collings has to establish his academic credentials and refer to his working methods, that doesn’t detract from the reader’s overall enjoyment. An entertaining and informative book.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals with Inuit men's lives in transition, both in aging from young adult through to entering elder age as well as trying to cope with the tremendous changes and pressures facing modern Inuit communities.

Mainly filled with the author's interactions with local men, being immersed into the life as much possible, this book is filled with many stories and life lessons that can be learned and used to enhance our own personal lives regardless of our ethnic background or where we live.

There are some portions at the beginning that are more studious about ethnographic theories and constraints with this type of fieldwork which can be a bit tedious for readers who are simply wishing to dive into the meat of the book.