Uqalurait: An Oral History of Nunavut

by John R. Bennett

"Uqalurait" presents a comprehensive account of Inuit life on land and sea ice, in the area now called Nunavut, before extensive contact with southerners. Drawing on a broad range of oral history sources - from nineteenth-century exploration accounts to contemporary community-based projects - the book uses quotes from over three hundred Inuit elders to provide an 'inside' view of family life, social relations, hunting, the land, shamanism, health, and material culture. For the first time, the reader encounters Inuit culture and traditional knowledge through the voices of people who lived the life being described. Based on a larger research project developed under the guidance of six Inuit from across Nunavut, "Uqalurait" consists of thousands of quotations organised thematically into cohesive chapters. The book describes the seasonal rounds of four different groups, capturing the fact that while Inuit across Nunavut had much in common, there was also much to distinguish them from each other, living as they did in many small groups of people, each with its own territory and identity. Given the recent creation of Nunavut, and the current focus of attention on the Arctic due to climate change, "Uqalurait" is a timely source of insight from a people whose values of sharing and respect for the environment have helped them to live contentedly for centuries at the northern limit of the inhabitable world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, History

473 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 2004

Reviews

[Wendelle]

This book is a comprehensive documentation of Nunavut society and culture, sourced firsthand from the stories and memories shared by Inuit. Through this book, one cannot help but observe how the harsh Arctic environment has helped partially shape all components of Inuit culture-- gender relations, childhood rearing, community values, treatment of the neighbors and elderly, relations with animals, cosmological stories and beliefs, and medicinal knowledge.
Interestingly, according to this book's section on 'Indians' the Inuit were afraid of the Native American Indians and held tales of Indians as tribal massacrers.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great compilation of what life was like in the Arctic.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uqalurait is a comprehensive survey of every aspect of Inuit life in the years before being forced into communities. They were incredibly ingenious in their use of materials at hand, mostly animals of which they used every part, and their knowledge of the land, the ice, the seasonal fluctuations, and the habits of the animals on which they depended for their very existence. Despite the harshness and hard work of their lives, which often held death by accident or starvation, they found enjoyment in the daily round and in their festivals which included singing, storytelling, drumming, and dancing. There was the dark side, as well: occasional deadly family feuds, restrictive taboos, and the treatment of women, even though the men (the hunters) depended for their very survival on the women's skill and hard work in preparing and sewing skins for tents and clothing. The fact that the stories are told in the words of the elders themselves lends both authenticity and colour to the narratives. Complete with drawings, maps, prints, genealogical tables, photographs, a glossary, and index.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable book and an incredible resource for understanding traditional Inuit culture. In it, through excerpts of interviews with many elders, a holistic picture of life emerges, from the material to the social.

I got this book in preparation for a canoe expedition to Nunavut. Having been on the land, I'm in awe of the way of life the Inuit developed that sustained them for millennia in that environment. I also recommend the TV show "Hunting with my Ancestors" by the director Zacharias Kunuk to understand how this history and these practices are engaged with by the Inuit today.

This book is a treasure.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly fascinating to read! I got a lot of insight into Inuit life that I would have otherwise never had. It was so nice to pick up this book from a library in Canada. :)

[Troy Rauhala · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in understanding Inuit history, customs and thought this book is an indispensable treasure.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly fascinating!