The Snow Walker

The Snow Walker by Canadian author Farley Mowat is a collection of short stories that gives a voice to the people of the north, the Inuit. The stories have a warm campfire feel to them, but there is one consistent thread that runs throughout – these are all stories about people who are losing their culture and identity as modern men and their technology encroach upon their territory.

I enjoyed all of the stories even those of them that dealt with native superstition and the consequences of crossing the gods. My favourites of the collection was the title story, “The Snow Walker”, as it beautifully illustrates the love of family and “Walk Well, My Brother” about a pilot and his passenger, an Inuit woman who survive a plane crash show more and then travel across the barren lands to find her people.

Originally published in 1975 one can see how accurate Mowat was in his judgment of Western methods and how the indigenous people have suffered from the treatment they have received. Although slightly dated when it comes to terminology, this is a powerful collection of stories that are versatile and unique. show less

Set in Canada's Arctic region, these are short stories about the Eskimos or Innuit. Although Mowat is not himself Innuit, he lived with them for several years and it is easy to see how he loves and admires these people.

The first selection is an essay on the power of snow, which Mowat calls the fifth element. Snow truly is a shaping element of these people; the one they most deal with on an intimate and daily level. Their lives and legends reflect their relationship with it.

This is a sobering book. As snow is a defining element of the Arctic, the Snow Walker is the Innuit personification of death. In this harsh environment where the great Caribou herds have disappeared and the Innuit rely on white men who brought disease and often made show more promises they didn't keep, the Snow Walker comes often to these people. Yet they are an enduring and brave people and it is a pleasure to get to know them through Mowat's eyes. show less

I had not read this book and only dimly recollected its existence as I pulled it off the shelf at our family cottage in Nova Scotia. I was looking for something to read from the "old books" shelf, being quite unattracted to the many titles we had carted halfway across the country from Toronto. It had been over a decade since I had last read any Mowat and I'm glad I picked up this one. The historian in you will gag at his "never letting facts get in the way of the truth" approach to writing/reporting, but he does melt the snowdrift away from the exposed rock of the real story. And Mowat can tell a good story. A thoroughly enjoyable read. What better to read in mid-summer's heat? (You could also choose watch the movie that is based upon show more one of the stories in the book.) show less

A collection of 9 fictional stories and one nonfiction. One of the stories was the basis for the movie Snow Walker . I liked the movie, and that led me to read this collection of stories. The movie is based on one of the stories, and in my opinion, both the movie and the story are very good (it is rare for a movie to be entertaining and also accurately capture the spirit of the book it's base on, as this movie did). Farley Mowak writes very well. One story that stands out for me is the imagined pre-historic (pre-historic or unrecorded?) encounter between Vikings, Inuits, and woodland Native Americans. Although pure fiction, it is tempting to believe that an interaction something like this could very well have occurred. The nonfiction show more story at the end of the book concerns the life and death of an actual Inuit woman. As told by Mr. Mowat, it is an example of the consequences of careless imposition of Western culture upon indigenous people. The event is also described in the autobiography, An Arctic Man, by Ernie Lyall. Mr. Mowat notes that Mr. Lyall was an eye-witness to the events, and since Mr. Lyall's account of the events differs significantly with Mr. Mowat's, it seems a third “tie breaker” account might be needed to sort out discrepancies between the two accounts. However, all in all, this book is a very nice collection of fictional stories about the Inuit people and mythology of the Arctic. show less

The Snow Walker by Farley Mowat
Stories of survival of those who live upper northern tundra.
Such a strong bred of people in that they are able to adapt to the surroundings they are raised in.
Loved hearing of the fifth element and how the people used it everyday.
Snow mansions, I can just imagine a village, all connecting houses, so cool!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

I love all of Farley's books. My favorite story is the snow walker and Walk well my Brother. Oh my God, If you love these stories please rent the movie the snow walker. It has to be the best movie I have seen that compliments the book. All I can say is that the story is hauntly beautiful. Between the landscape, and what little dialog is needed it is something you will never forget. I have reread this book many times.

Chilled me to the bones on a hot summer day.