Wild Like the Foxes

by Anauta Blackmore

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Genres: Middle Grade

Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Anauta Blackmore (c. 1890–1965), also known as Lizzie Ford Blackmore, was an Arctic author, memoirist and lecturer.[1] She is best known for her 1940 autobiography, Land of the Good Shadows, which may be the first book-length autobiography of an Inuk.[2] Blackmore claimed to have Inuit ancestry, although it's unclear if this was true.[3]

Early life
She was born Sarah Elizabeth Ford on Baffin Island in about 1890.[3][4] Her father was George (or Yorgke) Ford, who worked for the Hudson's Bay Company as an interpreter.[3][5] In Blackmore's recounting, her mother was an Inuit woman, although company archives suggest her mother was from Newfoundland and died around 1905.[3]

She married her cousin, trading-post manager William R. Ford, with whom she had two daughters, but was widowed in August 1913 when Ford drowned.[1][4] After this she spent some time in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Quebec, and Detroit, Michigan, before settling in Indianapolis, Indiana, around 1920.[1] Here she married construction contractor Harry Blackmore.[1][4]

Career in America
In Indianaopolis, she met Indianapolis Star cartoonist Chic Jackson who, around 1929, helped her establish herself on the lecture circuit.[1] She embraced her Inuit name, Anauta, was advertised as "the only Eskimo woman on the American platform", and spoke about her life experience in the eastern Arctic.[4]

In 1940, Blackmore collaborated with American children's writer Heluiz Chandler Washburne to write an autobiography, Land of the Good Shadows: The Life Story of Anauta, an Eskimo Woman, published by John Day Company.[4] The story was certainly embellished for a white audience, with Blackmore claiming to have been adopted and raised by an Inuk woman.[4] She would go on to write two more books, Children of the Blizzard (1952), a collection of stories of Inuit children, and Wild Like the Foxes: The True Story of an Eskimo Girl (1956), a biography of her mother.[5]

Blackmore died of a heart attack on 13 January 1965 in Ashland, Kansas, where she had been engaged to lecture.[1][6]

Reviews

[mckenna (draco’s version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for a book study and I really didn't want to but when I started reading I didn't want to be doing it on a book study so that I could just keep reading. This was a really good non-fluff book I really liked Alea and her relationship with her brother was super inspiring. Only thing it really tripped me up when they spoke in third person but over all really good nonfiction book!

[Eureka-Gardener · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This story is based on the life of the author's mother, Alea, and covers her girlhood up until she meets Yorgke who becomes her husband. Hunting, trapping, playing boy's games, enduring hardships are all part of Alea's life until she is sent to school in England by her widowed father Her return to Labardor, her love for Yorgke, and the death of her father are described."

[Violet Ashmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good, I had to read it for school purposes so I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I could have. That aside I really did enjoy it, and wanted to read it even after the chapter that I was supposed to read was over. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical stories. or maybe you just want a wholesome story with a women who can do things like hunting without all the feminist stuff.

[Kynzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Like the Foxes is a true story of a young Inuit girl and her family living under the harsh conditions of North most Canada prior to modern day conveniences. This story tells of young Alea’s childhood and daily life and is a charming and influential book for young readers.

This book is an enjoyable and educational read and contains much moral enlightenment, constantly instilling good ideals such as being humble, serving, hard working, honest, loving and obedient. Overall, the author did a good job turning her mother’s life into a pleasant and endearing story.

I recommend this book to young readers as it is a book that promotes children to find the best in any situation and do their best for people around them as well as being a wholesome and inspiring book for young people.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little Inuit girl who lost her mother at a young age. As she goes about her life she is happy with being "unladylike" and "wild like the foxes." As she hunts and fishes she is happy.

[Danielle Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I read it to my boys. We enjoyed it well enough. Probably not on our favorites list though.

[Emilye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of an Inuit woman from 1910-1919 written by her daughter. Lovely story. writing was okay.

[Patricia L. O’Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. If you are a fan of Laura Ingalls or L.M. Montgomery, this is for you.

[Aisley Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a really good book that everyone should read. Its a heart warming story about an Inuit girl who learns how to live in the harsh climate we call Canada. She goes through a lot like losing her mother, keeping her father and brother safe from the hired man, and learning how to cope with everything surrounding her. I feel bad for her she had to deal with a lot but she knew where to turn for help when her father got hurt and died. I loved this sad but truthful story about an Inuit girl.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to recommend Wild Like the Foxes: the True Story of an Eskimo Girl by Anauta.
This true story of an Eskimo/Inuit girl is truly heartwarming and inspiring. The book is about the author’s mother, Alea and her life as a child living with her family in Labrador, Canada. There are some sad parts, but that is what makes a good story. After a tragic accident involving Alea’s mother, Alea, her adopted brother Koopa, and Alea’s father Aphea, are stranded on an island with no way of getting home. I won’t tell you how they resolve the problem but they eventually make their way home. With many more troubles along the road, Wild Like the Foxes shows how hard Inuit life was and is today. I loved every second of it and I think you would too. Thank you for telling your mother's story, Anauta!