Towards a Comparative History of Coalfield Societies Book

Uqalurait is a comprehensive survey of every aspect of Inuit life in the years before being forced into communities. They were incredibly ingenious in their use of materials at hand, mostly animals of which they used every part, and their knowledge of the land, the ice, the seasonal fluctuations, and the habits of the animals on which they depended for their very existence. Despite the harshness and hard work of their lives, which often held death by accident or starvation, they found enjoyment in the daily round and in their festivals which included singing, storytelling, drumming, and dancing. There was the dark side, as well: occasional deadly family feuds, restrictive taboos, and the treatment of women, even though the men (the hunters) depended for their very survival on the women's skill and hard work in preparing and sewing skins for tents and clothing. The fact that the stories are told in the words of the elders themselves lends both authenticity and colour to the narratives. Complete with drawings, maps, prints, genealogical tables, photographs, a glossary, and index.