The Fan Hitch Volume 9, Number 3, June 2007

Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog

In This Issue....

From the Editor: Metaphorically Speaking

That Was Then, This is Now

Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update

Fan Mail

Book Review: The Inuit Way

Product Review: Collasate™/EMT™

Drag Mats and other "Drag-Ons"

ISDI Publications News

IMHO: Friends 


Navigating This Site

Index of articles by subject

Index of back issues by volume number

Search The Fan Hitch


Articles to download and print

Ordering Ken MacRury's Thesis

Our comprehensive list of resources

Talk to The Fan Hitch

The Fan Hitch home page

ISDI home page


Editor's/Publisher's Statement
Editor: Sue Hamilton
Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
The Fan Hitch, Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog, is published four times a year. It is available at no cost online at: https://thefanhitch.org.

The Fan Hitch
welcomes your letters, stories, comments and suggestions. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.

Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut  06791, USA or mail@thefanhitch.org.

This site is dedicated to the Inuit Dog as well as related Inuit culture and traditions. It is also home to The Fan Hitch, Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog.
Book Review....

The Inuit Way: 
A Guide to Inuit Culture

produced by Pauktuutit Women of Canada 

reviewed by Sue Hamilton 

Anyone who has so much as a smidgen of interest in any facet of the Canadian North should own a copy of this publication. Anyone who plans to visit the North should read it several times over as part of the process of arranging a journey. And absolutely everyone who expects to live and work in the Arctic should memorize its contents! Reading and understanding The Inuit Way ought to be an employer's prerequisite for all new hires coming from outside the North, research scientists, and for those already relocated to the North who may not have developed an understanding of the culture of people among whom they live and with whom they work. A "transplant's" occupation, status and even long term presence does not assure this appreciation of a society shaped by living in extreme conditions for millennia. 

First published in 1989, The Inuit Way, according to the forward of the 2006 revision written by Martha Greig, president of the Pauktuutit Women of Canada, 

"…is much more than a simple introduction to traditional Inuit culture. It provides the reader a starting point for understanding the cultural underpinnings of modern Inuit. As a people, we have undergone immense changes in a generation. Despite the many changes our society has encountered, we retain strong ties to the land and our traditions. People coming to the north today see Inuit taking part in many aspects of modern life - working in an office environment, watching hockey on television, shopping at local stores, making political speeches. What they may not see at first is that Inuit continue to have a strong, unique culture that guides us in our everyday life - our close ties to the land, a dedication to community and a strong sense of self-reliance…"
The Inuit Way, considered by many to be the "single best resource" to introduce Inuit culture to non-Inuit, is forty-four pages long and is divided into nine detailed sections, as follows: Context, A Little History, Childrearing, Family Dynamics, Modern Family Dynamics, Community Dynamics, Traditional Inuit Values, Diet, and Conclusion. There is also a bibliography and a reading list. The pages are generously adorned with drawings and photographs, many of them historical. 

The Inuit Way: A Guide to Inuit Culture is $20.00 CAD plus shipping for one copy, $15.00 CAD each for 10 or more copies plus shipping; payment by check or money order in Canadian dollars only.  To order and to find out exact shipping charges: 

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada 
56 Sparks Street, Suite 400 
Ottawa, ON K1P 5A9 
Tel: (613) 238-3977 or 1-800-667-0749  Fax: (613) 238-1787 
Email: info@pauktuutit.ca
Web: www.pauktuutit.ca

This must-have publication is also available online as a free PDF. 

Pauktuutit Vision
Pauktuutit's vision is to be a "dynamic, visible, influential and prosperous organization, supporting Inuit women and providing leadership, voice and excellence for the betterment of Inuit women, their families and communities."

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