Kenn Harper est un historien canadien dont l'œuvre explore la riche tapisserie de la vie dans le Grand Nord. Ses écrits racontent de manière saisissante les expériences souvent tragiques du peuple Inughuit et leurs rencontres avec le monde extérieur. Grâce à une recherche méticuleuse et à une profonde compréhension de la culture inuite, Harper offre aux lecteurs une perspective unique et éclairante sur l'histoire humaine de l'extrême nord.
Exploring the interplay between Inuit and Christian beliefs, this volume delves into their coexistence and conflicts during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It presents a rich tapestry of narratives that highlight the cultural and spiritual dynamics at play, revealing how these two distinct worldviews influenced each other amidst changing social landscapes.
A true story from the great age of Arctic exploration of an Inuit boy's struggle for dignity against Robert Peary and the American Museum of Natural History in turn-of-the-century New York City. Sailing aboard a ship called Hope in 1897, celebrated Arctic explorer Robert Peary entered New York Harbor with peculiar "cargo": Six Polar Inuit intended to serve as live "specimens" at the American Museum of Natural History. Four died within a year. One managed to gain passage back to Greenland. Only the sixth, a boy of six or seven with a precociously solemn smile, remained. His name was Minik. Although Harper's unflinching narrative provides a much needed corrective to history's understanding of Peary, who was known among the Polar Inuit as "the great tormenter", it is primarily a story about a boy, Minik Wallace, known to the American public as "The New York Eskimo." Orphaned when his father died of pneumonia, Minik never surrendered the hope of going "home," never stopped fighting for the dignity of his father's memory, and never gave up his belief that people would come to his aid if only he could get them to understand.
The first volume of this series explores the unique challenges and life stories of Inuit individuals before European contact. It delves into their rich cultural heritage, survival strategies, and the intricate social structures that defined their communities, offering an insightful glimpse into their way of life and resilience in a harsh environment.
Knud Rasmussen and the Fifth Thule Expedition
The narrative follows Arctic historian Kenn Harper as he explores Knud Rasmussen's pivotal Fifth Thule Expedition, providing insights into the challenges and discoveries faced during this significant journey. Harper delves into the expedition's impact on Arctic exploration and the interactions between explorers and indigenous cultures. Through detailed accounts and historical context, the book highlights the adventurous spirit and the scientific contributions of the expedition to our understanding of the Arctic region.
Exploring the darker side of early Northern colonization, this volume delves into the lives of murderers, thieves, and fraudsters, alongside the stories of those wrongfully accused. It offers a gripping look at crime and justice during this tumultuous period, revealing the complexities of human behavior and societal norms in a developing frontier.
The third volume delves into the intricate narratives surrounding the whaling industry's rise and decline in the Eastern Canadian Arctic. It explores the cultural, economic, and environmental impacts of whaling, highlighting the experiences of those involved and the transformative effects on local communities. Through compelling storytelling, it captures the historical significance and the challenges faced by the industry, offering a nuanced perspective on this pivotal chapter in Arctic history.
Historian Kenn Harper shares tales of Inuit who played a pivotal role in the expeditions of some of the most famous Arctic explorers, including the unfortunate John Franklin.
Im August 1897 kehrt der amerikanische Polarforscher Robert Peary von einer Expedition nach Nordgrönland zurück und bringt sechs Eskimos mit, die vom American Museum of Natural History als Forschungs- und Präsentationsobjekte angefordert wurden. Im Museum sind die Polareskimos der wissenschaftlichen Neugier und dem Sensationsdrang der Besucher ausgeliefert. Kurz nach ihrer Ankunft erkranken alle schwer, und nur das jüngste Mitglied, Minik, überlebt als Waisenkind in der Großstadt. Zerrissen zwischen zwei Kulturen, sucht er nach seiner Identität und der verlorenen Kultur seines Volkes. Die ehrgeizigen Wissenschaftler um ihn herum bieten ihm keine Hilfe, sondern betrügen ihn um die Gebeine seines verstorbenen Vaters. Miniks lange Odyssee beginnt. Kenn Harper enthüllt die wahre Lebensgeschichte von Minik Wallace, um die viele Legenden entstanden sind. Seine umfangreichen Recherchen in Archiven in Kopenhagen, Washington, New York und Philadelphia sowie Besuche in Cobleskill, Lawyersville und Pittsburg führten ihn auf die richtige Spur. Nach der Veröffentlichung von Harpers Dokumentation in den 80er Jahren sah sich das American Museum of Natural History schließlich veranlasst, die Gebeine der vor rund 100 Jahren in New York verstorbenen Eskimos nach Grönland zu überführen, wo sie 1993 ihre letzte Ruhestätte fanden.
