Northern Passage: Ethnography and Apprenticeship Among the Subarctic Dene [Paperback]

Robert Jarvenpa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998 | ISBN-10: 0881339903 | ISBN-13: 978-0881339901

What is it like living among and learning about the cultural realities of other people for the first time? Northern Passage uses the motif of apprenticeship to reveal the humbling, childlike quest of the novice ethnographer, on the one hand, and the trials of an active participant learning the intricacies of bush life and livelihood from subarctic Indian hunting partners and teachers, on the other hand. In the process, Jarvenpa's reflexive narrative presents a compelling vision of northern Dene or Athapaskan society. The Han people of the Yukon Territory and eastern Alaska, and the Chipewyan of northern Saskatchewan, emerge as vividly drawn actors in a cultural landscape distinctly influenced by gold miners, fur traders, missionaries, conservation officers, and other post-colonial agents. This candid but sensitive treatment deals with issues such as trapping economies, knowledge of the environment, dreaming and hunting power, permission and informed consent, language learning, accusations of spying, alcohol use, economic development, partnerships, note-taking, and the pros and cons of active participation. Jarvenpa's early field experiences unfold as a primer on false leads, setbacks and revealing discoveries building to a suspenseful aftershock.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Northern Passage will be of relevance to anyone interested in Native North Americans, circumpolar societies, Indian-European relations, hunter-gatherers, ecological anthropology, and ethnographic field methods. Students in introductory cultural anthropology courses will readily identify with the book's focus on a young fieldworker just learning his craft. Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Brody, Maps and Dreams: Indians of the British Columbia Frontier (ISBN 9780881339659) and Ziker, Peoples of the Tundra: Northern Siberians in the Post-Communist Transition (ISBN 9781577662129).

From the Inside Flap

"Jarvenpa presents a moving, sometimes tragic portrayal of people who live in an environment known for its demanding conditions, and in so doing captures an essence rarely found in ethnographic writing. This aspect of the book will appeal to anyone interested in the Subarctic, in particular how people have adapted and continue to adapt to its demanding and changing conditions. Personal accounts of fieldwork from the Subarctic are rare, and as such this book helps fill a gap. (Arctic: Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America, Vol. 51, No. 4, December 1998)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881339903
• ISBN-13: 978-0881339901
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting insights into the Han and Chipewyan cultures, April 9, 2009

By 

Eileen Palsson (Sollentuna Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northern Passage: Ethnography and Apprenticeship Among the Subarctic Dene (Paperback)

I'm neither an anthropologist nor a professional reviewer, but since no one else had reviewed this book, I thought I might give it a shot.
I purchased this book because I'll be taking a trip to Canada and Alaska this summer, and I'm interested in learning more about the native people before I go. And I wasn't disappointed. The people came alive for me and I felt I got a feeling for how different the Han and Chipewyan cultures are (or were -- the events in the book took place in the 1970's). There were some pictures, drawings, and basic maps that were good additions.
I thought it might be dry reading, but some of the author's experiences had me laughing out loud. I did wonder about the editing, as there were a few jarring grammatical errors. But overall I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in learning about the Dene or Athapaskan way of life.

5.0 out of 5 stars suprisingly interesting, December 21, 2011

By 

jules - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Northern Passage: Ethnography and Apprenticeship Among the Subarctic Dene (Paperback)

read this ethnography for a class, found it pretty interesting! Not as dry as most! I would reccomend this to anyone interested in writing an ethnography.