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When Days Are Long: Nurse in the North
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 25, 2019
This is an older gem, first published in 1965 and republished this year by Caitlin Press.
Raised on an Alberta farm, author Amy Wilson was one of those admirable women born to serve others under the most adverse conditions. She became a nurse and performed her grim duties in the far reaches of northern British Columbia and the Yukon, travelling to her patients (who often resided in remote indigenous settlements) by bush plane, truck, and dogsled.
It was the 1950s, yet this part of the world was still very much the uncivilized frontier, especially in terms of health care. Amy Wilson matter-of-factly describes the most horrendous physical challenges in a world where both climate and geography are the enemy. Even worse, the local indigenous population suffered terribly from diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid and diphtheria. Reading between the lines, one can conclude that the efforts of Amy and her fellow northern nurses did much to alleviate their suffering. Moreover, her observations on the indigenous way of life are both fascinating and enlightening.
The reissue of this book came about through the efforts of the author's niece, Laurel Deedrick-Mayne of Edmonton (who, by the way, has written her own excellent historical novel, A Wake For The Dreamland.
Raised on an Alberta farm, author Amy Wilson was one of those admirable women born to serve others under the most adverse conditions. She became a nurse and performed her grim duties in the far reaches of northern British Columbia and the Yukon, travelling to her patients (who often resided in remote indigenous settlements) by bush plane, truck, and dogsled.
It was the 1950s, yet this part of the world was still very much the uncivilized frontier, especially in terms of health care. Amy Wilson matter-of-factly describes the most horrendous physical challenges in a world where both climate and geography are the enemy. Even worse, the local indigenous population suffered terribly from diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid and diphtheria. Reading between the lines, one can conclude that the efforts of Amy and her fellow northern nurses did much to alleviate their suffering. Moreover, her observations on the indigenous way of life are both fascinating and enlightening.
The reissue of this book came about through the efforts of the author's niece, Laurel Deedrick-Mayne of Edmonton (who, by the way, has written her own excellent historical novel, A Wake For The Dreamland.
November 21, 2020
Well. This woman is a good and engaging writer.
But this book is an ode to colonialism. Wilson goes on and on about the "Indians" she's "saving", talks ever so highly of "mountain men", and is a part of the system of residential schools. Uses the word civilization way too much. Most importantly, views everything uncritically through a colonist eye. It's heartbreaking to read. I know she hasn't got bad intentions, but it's painful to read her infantilizing of the Indigenous people she's serving as a nurse. It's hard to hear uncritical descriptions of convincing Indigenous people to allow themselves to be flown to Edmonton's Camsell Hospital. It's hard to read uncritical descriptions of residential schools. It's hard to read this and see how anyone could walk away with a simple "it's an adventure tale of this amazing brave nurse in the wild untamed North." Untamed. Uncivilized. Immoral. She refers to Indigenous people's beliefs as superstitions. She praises the transformation of young Indigenous boys at residential school into city gymnasts. She confidently and unabashedly describes fooling and/or coercing Indigenous people into taking medicine they don't want by promising more rations or family allowance. And in the same brash voice describes some of the Indigenous health complaints as "imaginary". It's devastating to read about the epidemics of European diseases sweeping through northern camps and communities. Wilson describes her role of helping immunize, administer penicillin and so on, acknowledging that the people did not have immunity built up to these diseases, without any real acknowledgement that she was a part of the infiltration of communities and the culture that brought these diseases.
A particularly heartbreaking bit quotes a young Indigenous girl discussing having gone to the cinema and seeing a "cowboys and Indians" movie. The girl says "All the Indians got killed. Some boys behind us laughed. Clara and Mary and I laughed too."
Moments of insight are too few and too far between and too clouded by the colonist lens, like this one, "The old Indians clung to these customs and beliefs. The young people seemed torn between loyalty to their Elders and what they had been taught in the mission schools. It was a period of transition not easy for anyone."
If you must, you might argue she is merely a product of her time and the book reflects that, having been published in 1965. I don't accept that, and I certainly don't accept that the publisher republished this book in 2019 with no disclaimer, no corrections (except an inaccurate note stating that "Eskimos" are "now called Inuit"), no prologue examining the books's colonialist-saturated view.
But this book is an ode to colonialism. Wilson goes on and on about the "Indians" she's "saving", talks ever so highly of "mountain men", and is a part of the system of residential schools. Uses the word civilization way too much. Most importantly, views everything uncritically through a colonist eye. It's heartbreaking to read. I know she hasn't got bad intentions, but it's painful to read her infantilizing of the Indigenous people she's serving as a nurse. It's hard to hear uncritical descriptions of convincing Indigenous people to allow themselves to be flown to Edmonton's Camsell Hospital. It's hard to read uncritical descriptions of residential schools. It's hard to read this and see how anyone could walk away with a simple "it's an adventure tale of this amazing brave nurse in the wild untamed North." Untamed. Uncivilized. Immoral. She refers to Indigenous people's beliefs as superstitions. She praises the transformation of young Indigenous boys at residential school into city gymnasts. She confidently and unabashedly describes fooling and/or coercing Indigenous people into taking medicine they don't want by promising more rations or family allowance. And in the same brash voice describes some of the Indigenous health complaints as "imaginary". It's devastating to read about the epidemics of European diseases sweeping through northern camps and communities. Wilson describes her role of helping immunize, administer penicillin and so on, acknowledging that the people did not have immunity built up to these diseases, without any real acknowledgement that she was a part of the infiltration of communities and the culture that brought these diseases.
A particularly heartbreaking bit quotes a young Indigenous girl discussing having gone to the cinema and seeing a "cowboys and Indians" movie. The girl says "All the Indians got killed. Some boys behind us laughed. Clara and Mary and I laughed too."
Moments of insight are too few and too far between and too clouded by the colonist lens, like this one, "The old Indians clung to these customs and beliefs. The young people seemed torn between loyalty to their Elders and what they had been taught in the mission schools. It was a period of transition not easy for anyone."
If you must, you might argue she is merely a product of her time and the book reflects that, having been published in 1965. I don't accept that, and I certainly don't accept that the publisher republished this book in 2019 with no disclaimer, no corrections (except an inaccurate note stating that "Eskimos" are "now called Inuit"), no prologue examining the books's colonialist-saturated view.
July 19, 2020
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. . . . But it is a product of the time and views of its author.
There are passages where the author visits or takes children to residential schools, and others where she is dismissive to people hesitant to be sent out of community to the city hospital. While it was great to be able to read a contemporaneous account from a Canadian nurse, knowing how much some things haven't changed or what negative impacts things have had puts a different filter on some of Nurse Amy's adventures.
I don't normally write reviews but it isn't clear from the book jacket that some of these subjects come up so it felt worth mentioning.
There are passages where the author visits or takes children to residential schools, and others where she is dismissive to people hesitant to be sent out of community to the city hospital. While it was great to be able to read a contemporaneous account from a Canadian nurse, knowing how much some things haven't changed or what negative impacts things have had puts a different filter on some of Nurse Amy's adventures.
I don't normally write reviews but it isn't clear from the book jacket that some of these subjects come up so it felt worth mentioning.
November 23, 2024
I wanted to read this book because for the past thirty years I have been working and living in the North. A lot of my family were nurses. I love learning about the history of places. A very interesting read about Amy’s experiences in the beautiful north country
March 20, 2020
Such a life!! The Community Nurses are amazing people..they really define our heroes and heroines.
Thank you to ALL of the health care people in our world..thank you to ALL of the Community nurses 'up north' and everywhere.
I live 'up north'..in the Yukon Territory..and have been here for 40 years. Community living or living in 'sort of isolated areas' is a peace of mind and body thing for me. We all share..all animals (human too) and plants etc.
A good way to live I think!!
Thanks to people like Amy Wilson and her family and friends that made it possible for us to read about her life in the YT.
Thank you to ALL of the health care people in our world..thank you to ALL of the Community nurses 'up north' and everywhere.
I live 'up north'..in the Yukon Territory..and have been here for 40 years. Community living or living in 'sort of isolated areas' is a peace of mind and body thing for me. We all share..all animals (human too) and plants etc.
A good way to live I think!!
Thanks to people like Amy Wilson and her family and friends that made it possible for us to read about her life in the YT.
February 16, 2020
I went to a book re-release in Fort St. John on December 16, 2019, 70 years almost to the day from Amy's trek into the wilderness outside of Fort St. John. Reading the book I could tell that Amy didn't judge those who she worked with but rather accepted them where they were at. At one point in the book she extols praise on an officer of law because the locals came to her to write a letter to ask that he be kept in their community. This story tells me that she herself was accepted by the community because the residents came to her to write a letter. I finished the book wanting to read more of Amy's adventures.
November 6, 2019
This book was AMAZING! I learned so much about nursing in the north, and I will definitely read it again.
November 20, 2019
Interesting, nice easy read.
December 11, 2019
Beautiful writing about a beautiful place. The spirit of Wilson and the North come through clearly in her stories.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews