In This Issue....Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update Product Review: Collasate™/EMT™
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Book Review....
The Inuit Way:
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 This must-have publication is also available online as a free PDF. Pauktuutit Vision |