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The White Archer: An Inuit-Eskimo Legend
A young Eskimo vows to avenge his parents' violent deaths, but over the years that it takes him to become a master archer, he outgrows his hatred.
95 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 12, 2019
Childhood revisited and loved every minute of it!
March 18, 2025
Oh, I enjoyed every bit. Such a good story. Revenge turned to love.
December 31, 2010
Really enjoyed the look into Inuit/Eskimo life. As I was reading his decision to stop the violence and let his vengeance go, I kept thinking of Broken April by Ismail Kadare and the way that the blood-feud kept continuing for generations.
Perhaps one of my favorite passages happens when Kungo is asked to make a target to begin his training as an archer and he makes two figures; a white bear and a man.
""Are you an enemy of all white bears?" asked the old man.
Kungo thought about this question for a moment.
"No," he answered, "but I hope that one day a white bear will offer himself to me."
"Then do not drive arrows into his image or all white bears will be offended. And men, Kungo, would you do harm to all men?"
"No," said Kungo quickly. "I seek eleven bowmen. Those will I harm. Those I will kill."
"Hear me well, Kungo," Ittok said. "Do not give men cause to fear you, for one who does that is no better than a dog gone mad, wishing only to bite and kill.""
To me, this passage not only states the belief of both Ittok and his household, but I find it fascinating to juxtapose this against current practice of shooting at targets, some in the shape of men or animals.
Perhaps one of my favorite passages happens when Kungo is asked to make a target to begin his training as an archer and he makes two figures; a white bear and a man.
""Are you an enemy of all white bears?" asked the old man.
Kungo thought about this question for a moment.
"No," he answered, "but I hope that one day a white bear will offer himself to me."
"Then do not drive arrows into his image or all white bears will be offended. And men, Kungo, would you do harm to all men?"
"No," said Kungo quickly. "I seek eleven bowmen. Those will I harm. Those I will kill."
"Hear me well, Kungo," Ittok said. "Do not give men cause to fear you, for one who does that is no better than a dog gone mad, wishing only to bite and kill.""
To me, this passage not only states the belief of both Ittok and his household, but I find it fascinating to juxtapose this against current practice of shooting at targets, some in the shape of men or animals.
April 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book more for its vivid depiction of Eskimo life than for the story itself, although the story, about a boy bent on revenge, was good. Houston spent his life studying the Inuit and Eskimo, as well as other natives of Canada, and it shows. The story has a message I like: revenge only continues the cycle of hatred and violence. Recommended! Now I'm going to read the sequel, The Falcon Bow.
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August 2, 2011A sweet coming of age story of a young Innuit boy who learns to overcome his vengeance of the Indians who killed his family and kidnapped his sister.
February 19, 2014
This is a good adventure story and story of forgiveness.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews