Stories in a New Skin: Approaches to Inuit Literature (Contemporary Studies on the North Book 3)

In an age where southern power-holders look north and see only vacant polar landscapes, isolated communities, and exploitable resources, it is important to point out that the Inuit homeland is, in fact, united by extensive philosophical, political, and literary traditions. Stories in a New Skin is a seminal text that confirms the “national” scope of Inuit literature and introduces a model for Inuit literary criticism. Author Keavy Martin analyzes writing and storytelling from a range of genres and historical periods—the classic stories and songs of the oral tradition, life writing, oral histories, and contemporary fiction, poetry, and film—and discusses the ways in which these texts constitute a national literary tradition. She highlights characteristics of Inuit intellectual discourse, demonstrates potential approaches to the material, and introduces ways of drawing methodologies from the texts themselves. In An Age Where Southern Power-holders Look North And See Only Vacant Polar Landscapes, Isolated Communities, And Exploitable Resources, It Is Important To Note That The Inuit Homeland Encompasses Extensive Philosophical, Political, And Literary Traditions. Stories In A New Skin Is A Seminal Text That Explores These Arctic Literary Traditions And, In The Process, Reveals A Pathway Into Inuit Literary Criticism. Author Keavy Martin Considers Writing, Storytelling, And Performance From A Range Of Genres And Historical Periods--the Classic Stories And Songs Of Inuit Oral Traditions, Life Writing, Oral Histories, And Contemporary Fiction, Poetry And Film--and Discusses The Ways In Which These Texts Constitute An Autonomous Literary Tradition. She Draws Attention To The Interconnection Between Language, Form And Context And Illustrates The Capacity Of Inuit Writers, Singers And Storytellers To Instruct Diverse Audiences In The Appreciation Of Inuit Texts. Although Eurowestern Academic Contexts And Literary Terminology Are A Relatively Foreign Presence In Inuit Territory, Martin Builds On The Inherent Adaptability And Resilience Of Inuit Genres In Order To Foster Greater Southern Awareness Of A Tradition Whose Audience Has Remained Primarily Northern. A Note On Languages -- Maps [political Map Of Nunavut ; Inuit Regions Of Canada ; Ethnographic Map Of The Arctic (aboriginal, Native, Inuit, First Nations Groups) ;-miut Groups Of Nunavut] -- Silattuqsarvik: A Place (and Time) To Become Wise -- It Was Said They Had One Song: Tuniit Stories And The Origins Of Inuit Nationhood -- Tagavani Isumataujut (they Are The Leaders Here): Reading Unipkaaqtuat, The Classic Inuit Tales -- Let Me Sing Slowly And Search For A Song: Inuit Poetry And The Legacy Of Knud Rasmussen -- I Can Tell You The Story As I Heard It: Life Stories And The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Land Bridge -- Afterword: Inuuqatigiittiarniq: Living Together In A Good Way -- Appendix A: Six Versions Of Ivaluardjuk's Song: I. Rasmussen's Danish (1921) ; Ii. Trans. W.e. Calvert And W. Worster (1929) ; Iii. Trans. Tom Lowenstein (1973) A Hunting Memory ; Iv. Trans. Aenne Schmucker (1947) Jagderinnerung ; V. Ivaluardjuk's Song In The Journals Of Knud Rasmussen (inuktitut) ; Vi. Ivaluardjuk's Song In The The Journals Of Knud Rasmussen (english) -- Appendix B: Songs By Imaruittuq. I. Lyrics To Inngirajaalirlanga (let Me Sing Slowly) ; Ii. Imaruittuq's Own Song -- Glossary. Keavy Martin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Formats. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 A Note on Languages......Page 13 Map 1: Political Map of Nunavut......Page 14 Map 2: Inuit Regions of Canada......Page 15 Map 3: Ethnographic Map of the Arctic......Page 16 Map 4: -miut Groups of Nunavut......Page 17 Introduction: Silattuqsarvik—A Place (and Time) to Become Wise......Page 18 Introduction: The “Apolitical” Inuit......Page 29 The Meaning of Nation......Page 33 Reading Tuniit Stories for Nationalist Themes......Page 37 This is Not a Tuniq......Page 46 Conclusion: The “Problem” of Inuit Diversity......Page 53 Introduction: Eight Inuit Myths......Page 56 Unipkaaqtuat as Literary Texts......Page 59 “Angusugjuk and the Polar Bears”......Page 62 Conclusion: A New Generation of Unipkaaqtuat......Page 75 Three: “Let Me Sing Slowly and Search for a Song”: Inuit “Poetry” and the Legacy of Knud Rasmussen......Page 81 Hunting Songs......Page 85 Emile Imaruittuq and the Ikiaqtagait (Adapted Songs)......Page 95 Ikiaqtagait in the Work of Igloolik Isuma Productions......Page 106 Four: “I Can Tell You the Story as I Heard it”: Life Stories and the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit Land Bridge......Page 115 Oral History and Life Stories......Page 118 What Inuit Have Known for a Very Long Time —About Storytelling......Page 124 Life Among the Qallunaat as a “Literary” Text......Page 131 Afterword: Inuuqatigiittiarniq—Living Together in a Good Way......Page 138 Relationship to Land......Page 139 Relationship to Family......Page 141 Relationship to one’s “Inner Spirit”......Page 142 Relationship to One’s Community......Page 143 Appendix A......Page 145 Appendix B......Page 151 Glossary......Page 156 Introduction......Page 158 Chapter Two......Page 160 Chapter Three......Page 164 Chapter Four......Page 168 Afterword......Page 171 Bibliography......Page 172 Index......Page 192 "In an age where southern power-holders look north and see only vacant polar landscapes, isolated communities, and exploitable resources, it is important to note that the Inuit homeland encompasses extensive philosophical, political, and literary traditions. Stories in a New Skin is a seminal text that explores these Arctic literary traditions and, in the process, reveals a pathway into Inuit literary criticism. Author Keavy Martin considers writing, storytelling, and performance from a range of genres and historical periods--the classic stories and songs of Inuit oral traditions, life writing, oral histories, and contemporary fiction, poetry and film--and discusses the ways in which these texts constitute an autonomous literary tradition. She draws attention to the interconnection between language, form and context and illustrates the capacity of Inuit writers, singers and storytellers to instruct diverse audiences in the appreciation of Inuit texts. Although Eurowestern academic contexts and literary terminology are a relatively foreign presence in Inuit territory, Martin builds on the inherent adaptability and resilience of Inuit genres in order to foster greater southern awareness of a tradition whose audience has remained primarily northern."-- Page 4 de la couverture

In an age where southern power-holders look north and see only vacant polar landscapes, isolated communities, and exploitable resources, it is important to note that the Inuit homeland encompasses extensive philosophical, political, and literary traditions. Stories in a New Skin is a seminal text that explores these Arctic literary traditions and, in the process, reveals a pathway into Inuit literary criticism. Author Keavy Martin considers writing, storytelling, and performance from a range of genres and historical periods – the classic stories and songs of Inuit oral traditions, life writing, oral histories, and contemporary fiction, poetry and film – and discusses the ways in which these texts constitute an autonomous literary tradition. She draws attention to the interconnection between language, form and context and illustrates the capacity of Inuit writers, singers and storytellers to instruct diverse audiences in the appreciation of Inuit texts. Although Eurowestern academic contexts and literary terminology are a relatively foreign presence in Inuit territory, Martin builds on the inherent adaptability and resilience of Inuit genres in order to foster greater southern awareness of a tradition whose audience has remained primarily northern.