The Reindeer Herders of the Mackenzie Delta. Gerald T. Conaty and Lloyd Binder. Toronto, ON: Key Porter, 2003. 80 pp., pbk., $21.95. ISBN 1-55263-229-6. Subject Headings: Reindeer herders-Northwest Territories-Mackenzie River Delta-History-20th century. Sami (Europeans)-Northwest Territories-Mackenzie River Delta-History-20th century. Reindeer herders-Northwest Territories-Mackenzie River Delta-Biography. Grades 5 and up / Ages 10 and up. Review by Catherine Hoyt. *** /4

excerpt:

Inuvialuit noticed that the herds in the western Arctic were no longer behaving in a predictable way. They were no longer coming close to the growing settlements of Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk. Hunters were being forced to travel several hundred miles to the east in search of caribou. Even then, the men had to be in the right spot at the right time to intercept the herd. It had always been a risky business. Now the odds of finding the animals were decreasing.

The Reindeer Herders of the Mackenzie Delta is more than just the story of the Pulk and Binder families. These families from Norway and the Canadian Arctic were joined by marriage, and they embarked upon the task of reindeer husbandry in the Mackenzie Delta. A large part of this book has Lloyd Binder telling his family's story. But the larger story is of the history and development of reindeer herding in the Arctic. Due to declining caribou stocks in the 1920's, the American and Canadian governments decided to attempt to introduce reindeer from Scandinavia. The Sami herders introduced their skills to a chosen Inuit family in the Northwest Territories. The author does a good job of explaining the difference between reindeer and caribou. Conaty uses the first two chapters to provide the historical context and to introduce the Alaskan Reindeer Experiment and the Canadian Reindeer Project to the readers. The next three chapters, largely dialogue, tell the family's story. In the final chapter, Conaty discusses the cultural changes in the north and the continuation of reindeer herding in the Arctic.

     The format of this book adds to its readability as the interesting text is interspersed by captioned photos. Text blocks providing additional historical context and information are particularly helpful. The authors' generous use of dialogue will hold the reader's attention. The Reindeer Herders of the Mackenzie Delta is a great book for school projects/assignments and a very readable text for classroom use.

     The book is illustrated with 50 black-and-white and 10 colour photographs, many of which were provided by the Binder family. There is a helpful "Resources Section" that includes print sources and websites. The "Table of Contents" and "Index" will help the reader use the text.

     The Reindeer Herders of the Mackenzie Delta is a recommended purchase for public and school libraries. This title would make an interesting gift choice for anyone with a connection to the north.

Recommended.

After living and working in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, Catherine Hoyt is now the Public Services Librarian for the York Library Region in Fredericton, NB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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