Book Description

This is a story of survival—survival of a people and their way of life, and most importantly, the survival of the human spirit. Although the book shares the story of only one small group of people, Return to the Drum sheds light on the struggles and the successes of Aboriginal peoples across Canada.

The adventure begins when Miggs Wynne Morris, a young Welsh teacher, accepts a position to live and teach in the small, isolated community of Fort Franklin in the Northwest Territories in 1965. The second part of the book documents her return to that village—now called Déline—in 1995. As Morris shares her experiences of life with the Sahtuot’ine - the people of Great Bear Lake - her memories of these hard-working and proud people are interwoven with glimpses of their life from pre-European contact to the present. Return to the Drum will enlighten and anger, uplift and delight readers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Return To The Drum - a must read!
I loved this book as it contains the elements I enjoy in a good read - stories of ordinary people living, laughing and coming to appreciate each other. It is about a people's strength as they survive and adapt with dignity to the many challenges inflicted upon them across the years. It is about the author, a young Welsh teacher, who goes to the Arctic and ends up learning a great deal! The two stories intertwine as we learn about the Dene Indian's daily life in this northern community and their past. You finish the book having laughed, cried, being angry and ultimately caring about these people. It is beautifully written, interesting, honest and thought-provoking. It is a must read for anyone interested in the needs of Aboriginal people -and that should be all of us. ... Read more

Book Description

A memoir of childhood summers spent in a Laurentian village and of an Indian woman who lived according to her ancient code of courage and humanity. A heartwarming story. ... Read more

Book Description

The Frontier World of Edgar Dewdney is a biographical study of a man who played a key role in the cataclysmic events which marked the political, social, and economic transformation of western Canada in the latter half of the nineteenth century. An immigrant adventurer seeking his fortune in the colonies, Dewdney was embroiled in the gold rushes of the 1860s, the B.C. debates on Confederation, the Riel Rebellion of 1885, political evolution in the North-West Territories, and the Klondike gold rush.

For several years Dewdney held important public offices, such as Indian commissioner of the North-West Territories and Minister of the Interior, positions which allowed him to shape the course of events. In many ways, Dewdney's career is a metaphor for the maturing western frontier. In following his exploits, we follow the story of a region experiencing breathtaking change. Brian Titley's purpose in this book is not to praise, but to offer a critical appraisal of Dewdney as a type -- a representative of that class of adventurer who saw in the new land an unprecedented opportunity for self-aggrandisement. ... Read more

Book Description

Irene Avaalaaqiaq, one of Canadaís most prominent Inuit artists and a leading member of the prolific artistic community of Baker Lake in the new Arctic territory of Nunavut, has enjoyed a distinguished thirty-year career. A distinctive creator of drawings, prints, and sculpture, she is best known for her remarkable wall hangings, which reveal a rich tradition of spirit and shamanistic imagery.

Avaalaaqiaq brings a highly individualistic vision to her tapestries. Her world view, derived from an oral tradition, is expressed by manipulating bold shapes in bright contrasting colors against a solid background. In this first critical retrospective of Avaalaaqiaqís work, Judith Nasby discusses her life and art as well as her commitment to preserving her heritage and making it accessible to an international audience.

"The story of Avaalaaqiaqís life and her capacity to draw creative inspiration from it not only makes compelling reading, it makes an important contribution to the documentation of the history of the indigenous peoples of the Canadian arctic. Through a mix of art historical analysis, social/cultural background, and the artistís own voice, this book convincingly demonstrates how personal biography and Inuit oral traditions have been used by Avaalaaqiaq to create a powerful and distinctive new art, where indeed myth and reality intersect." -- Marie Routledge, National Gallery of Canada ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Obscure
While the introduction and footnotes were very well edited, I did struggle through the actual journals themselves. This could be attributed to Nelson's writing style, my unfamiliarity with Lake Superior geography and/or the plethora of French nomenclature (which can generate confusion for some). Overall, the journals are insightful of survival strategies and day to day existence in the fur trade years of 1802-04 in northern Wisconsin. Nelson, who was only fifteen when joining the XY Company, was a keen observer of Ojibwa Indian customs, the interrelationships between company men and his immediate surroundings. If the writing of the journals had more continuity, it would have been an enjoyable read. ... Read more

Book Description

An Irish missionary's exploits in the Eastern Arctic, 1946-51,illustrated with colour photographs . ... Read more

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An insightful look at life in the far north in days gone by.
Arnold Ruskell has a delightfully humorous way of telling about life in the Arctic as it was when the Inuit were still a nomadic people. Although it is the diary of an Irish, Anglican priest, it is not "religious". It was an enjoyable read. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wind Speaker, published by Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 858 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Aboriginal community says goodbye to respected Elder. (People).(Brief Article)(Obituary)
Author: Cheryl Petten
Publication: Wind Speaker (Newsletter)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
Volume: 20Issue: 1Page: 8(2)

Article Type: Brief Article, Obituary

Distributed by Thompson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

Cree Adelaide McCauley and her two children witness the shooting of their Metis husband/ father by a crazed white miner. She attempts to nurse him back to life but he dies after several painful days. This tragedy takes place in the Robson Valley and the nearest court of justice is 300 miles away, over treacherous mountain trails, in Golden, BC.Adelaide is convinced by friends of her late husband to travel south to Golden to testify at the trial of her husband's murderer Accompanied by her children and several other witnesses - including the accused - she makes the journey, testifies and hopes to leave. Unfortunately a mistrial is called.During the first trial, she at least has the advantage of a sympathetic interpreter, but the second trial is dominated by men who take the side of the white miner accused of the crime. Indians, particularly Indian women, are not treated with much respect. The murderer goes free and Adelaide, impatient with a white justice system she wanted no part of in the first place, disappears into the northern wilderness from which she came. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wind Speaker, published by Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) on October 1, 2004. The length of the article is 559 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Worlds of art, education mourn loss.(passed)(Bob Boyer, a world-renowned artist died of heart attack)(Obituary)
Author: Stephen LaRose
Publication: Wind Speaker (Newsletter)
Date: October 1, 2004
Publisher: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
Volume: 22Issue: 7Page: 29(1)

Article Type: Obituary

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

The true story of a Native man who murdered and consumed his own family in 1839. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A retrospective of the life and art of McDonald
Ancestral Portraits is a retrospective of the life and art of McDonald, a Native artist, profiles one of Canada's premier First Nation artist, blending selected color images with a review of McDonald's peoples and influences. The many firstperson insights make for a fine examination of Canadian and Native arts. ... Read more