Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women (McGill-Queen's Native and Northern Series) [Hardcover]

Nancy Wachowich (Author), Apphia Agalakti Awa (Author), Sandra Pikujak Katsak (Author), Rhoda Kaukjak Katsak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999 | Series: McGill-Queen's Native and Northern Series (Book 19)

Saqiyuq is the name the Inuit give to a strong wind that suddenly shifts direction; "Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women" is a vivid portrait of the changing nature of life in the Arctic during the twentieth century. Through their life stories, a grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter take us on a remarkable journey in which the cycles of life - childhood, adolescence, marriage, birthing and child rearing - are presented against the contrasting experiences of three successive generations. Their memories and reflections give us poignant insight into the history of the people of the new territory of Nunavut. Apphia Awa, who was born in 1931, experienced the traditional life on the land while Rhoda Katsak, Apphia's daughter, was part of the transitional generation who were sent to government schools. In contrast to both, Sandra Katsak, Rhoda's daughter, has grown up in the settlement of Pond Inlet among the conveniences and tensions of contemporary northern communities - video games and coffee shops but also drugs and alcohol. During the last years of Apphia's life Rhoda and Sandra began working to reconnect to their traditional culture and learn the art of making traditional skin clothing. Through the storytelling in "Saqiyuq", Apphia, Rhoda, and Sandra explore the transformations that have taken place in the lives of the Inuit and chart the struggle of the Inuit to reclaim their traditional practices and integrate them into their lives. Nancy Wachowich became friends with Rhoda Katsak and her family during the early 1990s and was able to record their stories before Apphia's death in 1996. "Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women" will appeal to everyone interested in the Inuit, the North, family bonds, and a good story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wachowich skillfully brings together the life stories of three generations of related Inuit women in a manner that highlights the great changes that have taken place in the North. From Apphia's dominant voice to Sandra's poignant recognition of the difficulties young people face in what is now Nunavut, this unique collaboration makes a fresh contribution to our understanding of the Inuit and life in the North." Dorothy Harley Eber, author of Images of Justice, winner of the 1998 Canadian Authors' Association Prize for History. "I was absorbed in the stories, they flowed well, and I think the book will be an excellent addition to the ... literature about, and by, Inuit." Jean L. Briggs, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology, Memorial University of Newfoundland. From the book: "Ok, yes, I will start talking now. I am Apphia Awa. Now I will start ... At that time we had caribou skin for our clothing, nothing else. Even during the summer we wore caribou skin clothing ... there were no fabrics back then for us to make clothing, nothing at all, only caribou skins." - Apphia Agalakti Awa. "I moved in off the land and went to school when I was eight years old. That is when they started trying to teach me how to become a Qallunaaq." - Rhoda Kaukjak Katsak. "I guess I have always felt that I wasn't Inuit enough ... I know that what I am doing right now is good, learning my roots, learning to sew, learning tough Inuktitut words ... Sometimes I think what I would like to do is to absorb as much traditional knowledge as I can and be like my name, be a Pikujak and take care of my family." - Sandra Pikujak Katsak

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773518878
• ISBN-13: 978-0773518872
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,551,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved it..reading it again, August 5, 2007

By 

lissa (nunavut ,canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women (McGill-Queen's Native and Northern) (Paperback)

this was a really interesting book. It shares the three generations of this family with a heavy emphasis on the times before town living. It sensitively answered alot of questions I had about life "on the land" and smoothly moves the reader into the life of the present day inuit. I purchased this book to understand the people of the north whose life I currently share living in their communities. Highly recommend

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning, down-to-earth tale of the modern Arctic lifestyle, October 21, 2008

By 

Trevor Ycas (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women (McGill-Queen's Native and Northern) (Paperback)

This work is powerful, introducing the reader to modern Inuit life, while remembering, literally, how it became that way. Proceeding through the stories of three generations of women, details of life ranging from chewing caribou skins to soften them to broken ski-doos (snowmobiles) and unexpectedly melting ice emerge. This is a unique multi-generational portrait of the last century of Inuit life. A quick-read, this is highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare, priceless book that puts modern life into stark proportion while entertaining effortlessly!, February 2, 2008

By 

Janet (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saqiyuq: Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women (McGill-Queen's Native and Northern) (Paperback)

Who, other than the actual native people of this land, could even imagine what life in this seemingly impossible environment entailed? Reading this book is an eye-opener, showing just how a harsh world commands the culture and sacrifices of those it surrounds. Few of us could survive in such a place, let alone thrive over centuries! I've learned to have an endless admiration for the people of the far northern regions; with their extreme hardiness and sheer, day-to-day courage. A fascinating book and a vitally important one.