Saqiyuq, Nancy Wachowich
Saqiyuq, Nancy Wachowich
List: $32.95 | Sale: $23.07
Club: $16.47

Saqiyuq
Stories from the Lives of Three Inuit Women

Author: Nancy Wachowich

Narrator: Tiffany Ayalik

Unabridged: 12 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: ECW Press

Published: 06/30/2023


Synopsis

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 will appeal to everyone interested in the Inuit, the North, family bonds, and a good story.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Anna on June 25, 2013

Fascinating read that truly illuminated Inuit life through 3 generations as well as cultural traditions, history and changing life styles. Incredible story telling - a must read for anyone interested in Inuit culture, especially from the viewpoint of three wonderfully strong women.......more

Goodreads review by Patrick on February 08, 2014

This is an amazing book. The oral history of 3 Inuit women representing different generations in the same family. Covering topics such as living off the land, marriage, childbirth, schooling, illnesses, struggling with identity, paid work, drugs and a whole lot more. Most interesting is the cross-ge......more

Goodreads review by Shayna on December 30, 2017

*Not Finished* (Library title needs returning, would love to revisit) This 3 part book shares stories from the lives of 3 generations of Inuit women living in the northernmost parts of Canada. The first half of the book makes up the first part, from the eldest woman. Aphia Awa was born on the land an......more

Goodreads review by em on August 18, 2024

3.5 rounded up incredible! not only were the stories told eye opening and interesting, but it brings forth the idea of biographies, how we remember and recount our own lives, either through oral storytelling or something else. what gets lost in translation? which stories slip through the cracks? i l......more

Goodreads review by April on June 19, 2023

Told in their own voices, the book follows three Inuit women from different generations as they share their experiences. From one living primarily "on the land" with little contact with white people until later in life to her granddaughter who is curious about the "old ways" and struggling to find h......more