White Lies About the Inuit

by John L. Steckley

The Inuit are a familiar part of Canadian identity but also exotic residing in the remote Arctic. The mix of the familiar and the exotic has resulted in the creation and perpetuation of a number of "White Lies." These are stories that have been developed over long periods of time, reproduced in classrooms, anthropology and sociology textbooks, and other media, but have been rarely challenged, contributing to misunderstandings that have ultimately, in subtle ways, diminished the stature of Inuit traditional culture.

In this lively book, designed specifically for introductory students, Steckley unpacks three "White Lies"--the myth that there are fifty-two words for snow, that there are blond, blue-eyed Inuit descended from the Vikings, and that the Inuit send off their elders to die on ice floes. Debunking these popular myths allows him to illustrate how knowledge is shaped by Western social science, particularly the anthropology of the "Other," and that it can be flawed. In the process, students learn not only about Inuit culture, but about the difference between popular and scholarly research.

Genres: Nonfiction, Anthropology

176 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

Reviews

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and informative book. I'm glad I read it as there is so much I didn't know about the Inuit nor did I actually know all the lies in Canadian history about them. Altho' I don't agree with his saying that in lanuage English is the only language that doesn't pause between words when speaking! In French and Spanish I am learning as the words are spoken althogether in a sentance! Very surprising to say for someone who claims he is a language geek! Further the repetition verbatim of a book that is now considered a classic was a bit much! But the book gives me an insight as to the actual history of Canada's first nations even tho' the book is constructed in a way that seems to be for students only. It isn't.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating book! I’d highly recommend it for anyone even a little bit curious to learn about the truth of the most commonly taught misconceptions about the Inuit