Arctic: culture and climate

by Amber Lincoln, Jago Cooper, Peter Loovers

For more than 25,000 years, Arctic peoples have made warm and hospitable homes in diverse and innovative ways out of ecosystems of ice. For the first time in their long history, however, Arctic communities are facing the real possibility that the foundations of their way of life—sea ice and permafrost—will soon disappear.


Published to coincide with a major exhibition at the British Museum, Arctic: culture and climate presents the history of the Arctic through the lens of climate and weather, and features a variety of fascinating objects, many of which are published here for the first time, including sealskin kayaks, drums used by shamans, traditional costumes, and contemporary art. This remarkable book explores the origins of Arctic peoples, early trade relationships between cultural groups, and relationships with animals, weather and their environments. It examines the strategies that indigenous people have used to deal with rapid transformations brought about by European explorations and colonial governments and sheds light on how these same strategies are being utilized today to mitigate the effects of global climate change.


Bringing together indigenous and non-indigenous interdisciplinary scholars, this book is an arresting insight into the ways of life and material culture of Arctic peoples.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Art, Indigenous, Essays

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Siri Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arctic: Culture and Climate is the accompanying book to a British Museum exhibition that I sadly missed due to COVID-related reasons. I purchased the book as recompense and finally managed to sit down with it this winter. It is a beautifully illustrated volume, with fantastic photographs of historical and contemporary Arctic artwork throughout. I also think that the emphasis on the Arctic region as a whole, spanning from Siberia to the Canadian Arctic, makes for a fascinating cross-cultural examination of similarities and differences in material as well as immaterial culture, historical trajectories and contemporary concerns. While I am not the right person to pass judgement on the matter, it was my impression that the subject matter was handled in a respectful and well-informed manner. Perhaps surprisingly, I am subtracting a point for the chapter on arctic archaeology, which is otherwise a major passion of mine. I felt that the cross-cultural approach simply did not fit this chapter as well as it did the remainder of the book, as it created a sense of jumping in both time and space, which prevented the chapter from providing a chronological overview of cultural developments and often made the different segments into which the chapter is divided feel a little disconnected. Otherwise, I found the book highly informative, very well-written, respectful, and, as already mentioned, beautifully illustrated. Recommended.

[David James · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of worthy material in this book, and wonderful photography. What’s missing is the voices of indigenous residents of the Arctic. Instead we get their stories told by academics and museum curators. An opportunity to give voice to the people most directly impacted by climate change at present is squandered.

Not a worthless book by any measure, and often tremendously informative, especially the chapters illuminating what is known about pre-contact history. And unlike many books on the Arctic, it truly is circumpolar, taking in North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland. But it could have been so much more if space had been given for the people who lived and continue to live this history to tell more of it, and to explain their present circumstances.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of academic-type papers, variable in quality and level of ridiculously careful (but I’m sure politically correct) jargon. Not enough pictures and most of them not big enough. This didn’t feel like a catalogue of an exhibition at all, which was disappointing. Given the unlikelihood of being able to visit the exhibition itself, I hoped it would be a good replacement as an at-home option. But it wasn’t.

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exhibition at the British Museum I would have liked to have seen but missed, this book is a fascinating exploration of the history of Arctic Peoples within the Circumpolar North, as well as essays on the issues affecting them in the recent past and today.

Accessibly written by many authors with a nice balance of chapters and photos, this is a nice introduction to the Arctic and more than a coffee table book.

[Joyce Campbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Coffee table. I as hoping for a read. Its a catalogue of illustrations from an exhibition.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is stunning but the text unfortunately quite dry and academic.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heavy guide to the exhibition. I carried it from the museum back home only to find it’s cheaper to buy it online, which was a letdown.
The book itself is beautiful. There is lots of detailed text to tell what the exhibition could not, though I wish the photographs would have been bigger.