tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post5755253538706502572..comments2024-02-27T11:43:23.516-08:00Comments on Arctic Book Review: The Polar NorthRussell Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post-20338270710131562102016-03-15T14:44:39.814-07:002016-03-15T14:44:39.814-07:00Dear Kenn,
If you had actually bothered to read m...Dear Kenn,<br /><br />If you had actually bothered to read my book, and not an article written by a Guardian journalist, you will have noticed that I never described myself as such. On the contrary. I talk about how tired the Inugguit are of people turning up to document their culture. However, I do at one point say that as far as I know I am the only linguist to have lived long term with the Inugguit. My friend, Michael Fortescue, would be the first to point out that he has not spent more than 3 weeks in this part of Greenland. And, you are not a linguist, but an amateur historian and former grocer. So, I suggest you get your facts right before accusing people of self-aggrandisement.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13217439400638590389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post-36039913657854043892015-07-24T07:57:53.846-07:002015-07-24T07:57:53.846-07:00I knew that I would accidentally leave out someone...I knew that I would accidentally leave out someone of merit, and Michael Hauser certainly should have been included. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions.Kenn Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16839338717165857553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post-38670871044583531842015-07-24T07:39:21.824-07:002015-07-24T07:39:21.824-07:00Thanks for the comprehensive list, Kenn! Michael H...Thanks for the comprehensive list, Kenn! Michael Hauser is the only one I would add to your list - his "Traditional Inuit songs from the Thule area" (MOG Man & Society 36, 2010) is remarkable.<br /><br />GennyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post-85805835340197294592015-07-24T07:10:09.076-07:002015-07-24T07:10:09.076-07:00Well, put, Kenn!Well, put, Kenn!Russell Potterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11023313195827310776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7885774624200184490.post-65647819617312518442015-07-23T21:16:51.513-07:002015-07-23T21:16:51.513-07:00 In an article in The Guardian written before Step... In an article in The Guardian written before Stephen Pax Leonard arrived in Greenland (“Linguist on mission to save Inuit ‘fossil language’ disappearing with the ice,” 13 August 2010), the author claimed that there was no Inughuit written literature but a strong and “distinctive, intangible cultural heritage,” and that “if their language dies out, their heritage and identity will die with it.” The aim of his project, he stated, was to “record and describe it and then give it back to the communities themselves in a form that future generations can use and understands.” <br /><br />Leonard portrayed himself as being the first to devote any sincere effort into recording Inughuit language and culture. But, far from being little studied, the Inughuit are the most studied of all Eskimo (Inuit and Yupik) groups on the planet. Knud Rasmussen and Peter Freuchen lived intimately with them for many years and both wrote extensively on what they had learned, as did the Dane, Mylius-Erichsen. The early explorers Elisha Kent Kane and Isaac Hayes wrote about their time among the Inughuit. Robert Peary lived and travelled with them over a span of 18 years, and Frederick Cook did so for a lesser period, although both wrote more about travel and adventure than about culture and language. Donald MacMillan carried on Peary’s legacy and also wrote extensively on the Inughuit, as did his colleague Elmer Ekblaw. Eric Holtved collected legends and folklore in the 1930s and wrote up his findings in highly-acclaimed volumes. Aage Gilberg wrote perceptively about his experiences as the first doctor in the district. His son, the ethnographer Rolf Gilberg, did fine work on researching and documenting Inughuit culture. Jean Malaurie lived and travelled in the district in the 1950s and built a career out of writing and lecturing about his experiences. The late Rigitze Soby, who died far too young for her contributions to be given the recognition they deserve, documented language, culture, and kinship patterns. The extremely accomplished linguist, Michael Fortescue, researched and documented the unique dialect of Inuktun and published an Inuktun dictionary. And the Inughuit hunter and historian, Inuutersuaq Uvdloriaq, published a highly-acclaimed book about the migration of a group of Baffin Islanders to northern Greenland, new blood which had significant impact on the local culture. Who am I missing in this list of adventurers and scientists who have studied this most over-studied of Eskimo groups? It is apparent that Leonard was not the first to bring acute abilities in perception and (for some of the above names) scientific rigor to the study of this unique community.<br /><br />Perhaps I may be allowed to mention that I also lived among the Inughuit for two years and visited annually for about two decades. I wrote a book about them (or one of them): “Give Me My Father’s Body: The Life of Minik, the New York Eskimo.” I speak Baffin Island Inuktitut dialects and at the time I was reasonably proficient in Inuktun. I have two daughters who grew up in Qaanaaq, and speak Inuktun fluently (as well as Kalaallisut, English and Danish.<br /><br />A Huffington Post article (“Global Warming Threatens Inuit Ancient Traditions in Greenland,” 25 November 2011) about the results of Leonard’s year in Greenland claims that the Inughuit speak a language “based on sighs and groans.” Perhaps that was their reaction to his presence in their community.<br /><br />Kenn Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16839338717165857553noreply@blogger.com