Honorary Mention, 2016 William Mills Prize for Non-Fiction Polar Books
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Currently, the northern latitudes encompassing Arctic and subarctic lands are the most rapidly changing environments in the world, and an understanding of the natural history and sociocultural heritage of the region may have profound implications for economic development and environmental conservation, with impacts on indigenous populations and local biodiversity. This compendium is a comprehensive account of the behavioral ecology of the land and sea mammals of Ungava and Labrador in northeastern Canada, combining the detailed observations of Arctic scientist Turner from the late 1800s with narratives on the subsistence and cultural usage of species by the Inuit and Innu. Traditional knowledge remains valuable today for adaptation and resilience in the face of increasing environmental challenges, as well as for preserving a rich cultural and linguistic heritage. Alongside natural history accounts of species are fables, legends, and creation stories about land and sea mammals, woven seamlessly with superb pictures and illustrations. Part field guide and part collected stories of Inuit and Innu traditional knowledge, this historical perspective also includes modem-day perspectives and interpretations stressing the relationship between humans and their environment. A rich resource for a broad audience including non-Arctic natural and social scientists. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic, professional, and general libraries. — R. A. Delgado Jr., American Association for the Advancement of Science
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