Uqalurait: An Oral History of Nunavut

by John R. Bennett, Susan Rowley (Editor)

Uqalurait, pointed snowdrifts formed by Arctic blizzards, "would tell us which direction to go in," says elder Mariano Aupilarjuk. This oral history, guided by the traditional knowledge of Inuit elders from across Nunavut, also follows the uqalurait. Thousands of quotes from over three hundred Inuit elders about their culture and customs cover all aspects of traditional life, from raising children to hunting, the land, and architecture, to belief systems, cosmology, and the Inuit's remarkable ability to make do with what they had. Given the recent creation of Nunavut and current attention to 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 for centuries at the northern limit of the inhabitable world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, History

520 pages, Paperback

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!