James Pokiak

The fifth entry in The Land Is Our Storybook series (although only the fourth I have read) - whose purpose is to educate young readers about the native peoples of Canada's Northwest Territories, and their lives today, in the here and now - Proud to be Inuvialuit: Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama is an engaging examination of the Inuvialuit community at Tuktoyaktuk, and the importance of the beluga whale hunt, both to their culture and to their physical survival. Told by James Pokiak - an show more Inuvialuit subsistence harvester who lives in Tuktoyaktutk - with the assistance of Mindy Willett (who has worked on all the entries in the series), and the color photography of Tessa Macintosh, it focuses on the Pokiak family, and follows them through a community whale hunt, and its aftermath.

Despite my discomfort with the idea of whaling - something that Pokiak addresses directly, in his brief foreword, in which he writes: "I know this is hard for some people to understand, but I hope that as you read my story you can see that whale harvesting helps us maintain our culture and that we only harvest what we need" - this book was very convincing, in its depiction of the virtues of subsistence (as opposed to sport) hunting. I support native subsistence hunting and fishing rights, and this title really demonstrates how important they are, and how respectful the native attitude toward harvesting is. Nothing that can be used is wasted - with one whale feeding an entire family for a year! I think that, even were I vegetarian, my lifestyle would undoubtedly do more damage to the natural world, and its animal inhabitants, than Pokiak's does. Something to consider...

All in all, this is an excellent introduction to the Inuvialuit people, one I recommend to young readers who are curious about the native peoples of northern North America, or life in the Arctic. show less

Authors: James Pokiak (Inuvialuit) and Mindy Willett

This non-fiction book explores what it means to be Inuvialuit and the important practice of harvesting and preparing beluga meat. The author, James Pokiak, and his daughter, Rebecca, set out to hunt a beluga. During their journey above the Artic Ocean, the readers learn of their traditional beliefs and survival skills.

Both of these information books are part of a series called: The Land is Our Storybook. They are nicely laid out with show more information easily found by looking at the table of contents, headlines, glossary, or index. The text is a larger size and broken up into manageable pieces for the reader. Besides maps and a few examples of beadwork, the books are also a photo essay. The photos document the lives of the north and give more details than the words can ever provide.

Themes: non-fiction, Inuit, arctic, family, community, and social studies.
Grade level: intermediate show less