Vivian Faith Prescott Livres

"A collection of short stories and recipes shared from a family fishcamp on Wrangell Island. The book explores the author's way of life as she uses traditional Tlingit and Sámi knowledge to care for the people and the world around her"--

In an Alaskan island's oral traditions, a baby's cry sucks in the northern lights, a man marries a tree, the muskeg swallows a restaurant, and the dead go to Seattle: discover forty-three linked tales in a story-cycle of life, death, and climate catastrophe in the frigid cold of Alaska.

The 23 poems in The Last Glacier at the End of the World act as glacial bandings marking time and place, imagining a near future in the Anthropocene. Humans, animals, and ice share characteristics, and science and myth animate a symbiotic indigenous worldview. Ultimately, the poet and poems in this collection are witnesses to the effects of climate change on Alaskan communities.

Exploring themes of colonialism, transgenerational trauma, and identity, this collection of poems offers a poignant perspective on the Sâami diaspora through the voice of a single descendant. It sheds light on the lesser-known experiences of the Sâami people, particularly in relation to their history as reindeer herders brought to Alaska in the 1800s. The work invites readers to reflect on the complexities of heritage and the lasting impact of cultural displacement.

Focusing on the Tlingit language's decline and revival, the narrative delves into the historical and contemporary ramifications of losing this intricate language. With fewer than three hundred fluent speakers remaining, the story highlights the efforts of individuals, particularly Vivian Faith Prescott and her family, in Southeast Alaska, who are actively engaged in cultural and linguistic revitalization. The account intertwines personal and familial experiences with broader themes of heritage and identity.

Exploring themes of indigenous identity and transgenerational trauma, this collection delves into the experiences of the Sámi diaspora in North America. Through a blend of poetry, graphic poems, and prose, Vivian Faith Prescott reflects on the emotional weight of cultural loss and the longing for connection to ancestral roots. The narrator's poignant musings reveal a deep sense of mourning for the past and the complexities of navigating life away from one's cultural origins, emphasizing the enduring impact of family and heritage.