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Banner: Aboriginal Stories
 

English Titles

Cover of Pomiuk, Prince of the North   Pomiuk, Prince of the North
Alice Walsh
Illustrations: Jerry Whitehead
Vancouver: Beach Holme Publishing,
2004. 58 p.
(A Sandcastle Book)
ISBN 0888784473
Ages 8 to 12

Based on real people and events, this is a story of social and cultural change seen through the eyes of an orphaned Inuit boy named Pomiuk. In the year 1893, Pomiuk travels with his adoptive family and many other Innu from Labrador to participate in the "Eskimo" Village attraction at the World's Fair being held in Chicago.

The story of this journey gives the reader a glimpse into the traditional life and culture of the Aboriginal peoples of Labrador, and also shows the white people's world, with its cities and its scientists, anthropologists and missionaries. It also highlights the excitement and optimism of a world's fair in the early days of electricity.

There are lots of important issues here for children to discuss among themselves and with adults. A glossary adds educational value to the book by explaining Inuit terms and historical references to events and people. The illustrations are by Jerry Whitehead, a Cree artist from the James Smith Band in Saskatchewan, who currently makes his home in Vancouver. His "puzzle pieces," scattered throughout the book, provide an additional level of visual fun and come together at the end to form a stylized map of eastern Canada.

–TD


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Date Created: 2006-11-09
Date Modified: 2006-11-09

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