People of the Deer (Death of a People) [Paperback]

 

 

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First published in 1947 and available in a wide variety of editions since then, Farley Mowat's first and most distant book is still remarkably readable in the world of the 21st century. It concerns one of the stranger human sagas of the last century, that of the discovery and destruction of a remote Inuit society, the Ihalmiut, in Canada's north. The setting of the book is far enough away in time for us to marvel at how little things have changed since. The contemptuous attitude of European man for the aborigine seems hardly to have altered over the years. We are still hard put to understand the needs of the first peoples and how to answer them.

Farley Mowat has combined a fine sensitivity for the natural environment with a sharp eye for the details of man's place within it. It must be exceedingly rare in the history of anthropology that such an inexperienced investigator has taken such pains to get to the source of his information. Mowat lived among the Ihalmiut for over a year to write the book. During that time he witnessed the rapid deterioration of the small group which remained, and tried to examine the causes of their decline. With very deft prose for such a young writer, he points out the difference between the intentions and the actions of the European discoverers of The People (as they refer to themselves) and the consequences of such disparity. The Ihalmiut were exploited in much the same way as any other tribal band found wandering by the early explorers. However, as Mowat points out, this was an exceptional group which had survived the extreme rigours of a barren land (known to us simply as The Barrens) for so many generations, only to be felled by contact with the very race which might have provided them with so much assistance.

The Ihalmiut are long gone from their homeland but their story serves to remind us of our often difficult relationship with the land and the people on it. Perhaps, as a race of city-dwellers, we need to consider our place in the natural environment more than ever. Mowat's work is a just accounting of where we stand in relationship to nature. Nor does he suggest that we should all go and live in the tundra. Yet People of the Deer is a source of considerable inspiration for those now ready to reflect on the unbalancing effect of contemporary values.

To start with, this book is a tragic story of the Inland Inuit of Northern Canada in the mid/late-1940s. Mowat ventures North to escape the horrors of WW2, and ends up meeting the fascinating people known as the Ilhamiut, or People of the Deer. Mowat then proceeds to tell a hauntingly beautiful story of how these people were set up to become dependent on white men (trading their spears and deer for guns and fox pelts) only to be screwed when the money went (literally) south and they were left with neither the tools (ammunition) or knowledge (traditional deer hunting techniques) that they needed to fight off hunger and its attendant companion, disease. He returns a second year, and learns their language before going off on a long canoe trip to help a biologist peer find the caribou herds that are no longer around the Ilhamiut. At the end of the book, as well as throughout it, Mowat is scathing in his reproach of the white men who took callous, or deliberate, advantage of the Inuit, as well as the government that failed to do anything of significance to help them. This book did tremendous service in bringing the plight of the Inuit, and of Northern Aboriginals in general, to light for the general Canadian public.

In this light, it's a fantastic book. The stories are fascinating, the people are compelling, and the scenery is awesome. I quite enjoyed reading it. There's just one problem keeping it from getting a full five stars: it might not be 100% accurate.

Yes, much has been raised about a 1996 criticism of the book by John Goddard. But I place less stock in that report than from an actual peer-reviewed anthropological journal, Man (1955, pg. 108-109) that published a formal review of the book that questioned a few key facts in the book. First, Mowat didn't go up by himself, nor did he go on a whim, he was part of a large, organized expedition to study the Canadian North. Second, the reviewer rightly questions Mowat's ability to learn the complex Inuit language in a single month. Learn it well enough to be able to understand and relate the haunting, complex stories presented in the book. Maybe Mowat is a linguistic savant, but this certainly doesn't seem like a lot of time to learn a completely foreign language. Third, Mowat didn't really spent that much time with the Inuit (two summers), so some of his sweeping claims about their history should be taken with a grain of salt. I should note that much of what he says about the Inuit's moral and social behavior does fit very well with what has been published by respected anthropologists (e.g., Jean Briggs).

Mowat has reportedly responded to these claims (and those about Never Cry Wolf) saying, in general, that he holds big truths as more important than little truths. In that regard, there's no doubting that his book captures the essence of the beauty of the Canadian arctic and (some of) its native people, and that it captured the general apathy and/or incompetence of the Canadian government in helping a group of people clearly in need and under their responsibility.

So as long as you read this book with the general caveat in mind that this book is more about themes than details, that it's not a serious anthropological body of work, it's a fabulous read. The fact that such a caveat is not placed in the book, particularly at this late publishing date, is why it gets four stars instead of five from me.

In many ways, this is Farley Mowat's most enduring book. It tells the true story of a Native American people killed by modernization--a brutal story that should make us think when we preach human rights and respect for others' cultures--not that our failings preempt us from speaking out, but as an injection of humility. I first read this book 20 years ago and it has stuck with me since them. I'm really sorry that it's out of print because it makes a great gift.

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1.0 out of 5 stars The worst book EVER...
What ever you do, do not waste your precious life reading this book...

Published on Jun 6 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars People Of The Deer
A truly insightful story of the inland eskimo people of the Canadian Arctic. It details not only their day to day survival in a harsh land, but also tells of their myths,... Read more

Published on Feb 2 2000 by judd knaup

5.0 out of 5 stars It transports you to the artic barrens and you LIVE it!
One of the best and most realistic stories of the artic I've ever sunk my teeth into. If you like Jack London you'll love this one

Published on Feb 18 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows stark impact of white-man upon Indian society
Insightfully reviews the impact of white-men's view of civilization and values upon the communities of the Artic Native American. Read more

Published on Nov 30 1998

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