Igloo Dwellers Were My Church 

by John R. Sperry

reviewed by Jeff Dinsdale

Reverend Sperry is the former Anglican Bishop of the Arctic. The book is the recounting of his experiences during the 1950s and 1960s in Coppermine (Kugluktuk) N.W.T. (present-day Nunavut). The book is notable for many things but I will mention only those that relate to dogs and sledding, namely, his use of sled dogs during his time in the Western Arctic coupled with his insights into the evolution of their use, his recounting of several very long journeys with the dogs, his excellent photographs of the dogs and equipment. What I find interesting is the fact that in that one part of the Arctic, at least three different influences came together and this is clearly evident in both the types of dogs being used and the "mix" of equipment. For example, the harnesses are a combination of the Alaskan "X" back with spreader bar and the "southern" padded collar. Dogs are harnessed side-by-side yet they pull heavy komatiks (with the occasional toboggan). There are no sleds as were used in Alaska. The dogs are interesting as well. Some are clearly Inuit Dogs, while the majority are cross-bred. He has an excellent discussion regarding the use of Inuit versus the traditional term Eskimo.

Igloo Dwellers in My Church, John R. Sperry. Published by Bayeux Arts, Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada and available through Outcrop Communications Ltd., Yellowknife, N.W.T., March 2001, ISBN is 1-896209-58-0; $39.00 Canadian (GST and shipping included).