Tammarniit (Mistakes): Inuit Relocation in the Eastern Arctic, 1939-63

by Frank James Tester, Peter Kulchyski

Between 1939 and 1963, the federal government embarked on a program of relocation and relief in the Eastern Arctic that would dramatically alter the lives of Inuit living there. This book documents how the development of the Canadian welfare state coincided with attempts to assimilate Inuit and organize their lives according to Western ideas about the family, work, and community. This policy resulted in many ‘tammarniit’ (mistakes) that led to social disruption and cultural disintegration, and even contributed to death among Inuit.

The authors have made extensive use of archival documents, many of which have been unavailable to researchers before, among them the Alex Stevenson Collection, which was stored in the Archives of the Northwest Territories. They have also interviewed many key individuals who were involved with events during the period. The result is a compelling and sobering look at the evolution of Canadian policy in the North and its tragic effects on Inuit.

Tammarniit is essential reading for anyone concerned with present-day debates about self-government for aboribinal people. By carefully exmaining the relationships among economic and social welfare considerations, Canadian cultural biases, as well as administrative and political concerns, Tammarniit provides a comprehensive overview of policymaking during this period as well as insight into the themes of resistance and renewal which have emerged among Inuit.

Genres: Indigenous

422 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

We could not have been more evil even if we tried.

[Daniel Dumas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about struggle, modernization, “good intentions,” and resistance. That relocation was seen as the best solution to social problems caused by western economic practices is baffling. The accounts of Inuit moved to the High Arctic and to the west coast of Hudson Bay are heart-wrenching but also demonstrative of unparalleled resilience. Anyone wishing to understand present-day Nunavut should read this and reflect on the inherent paternalism portrayed by white policy-makers during the post-war period and how we can decolonize our thought processes and ensure this way of thinking changes.