Synopses & Reviews
When Jewish author/storyteller Sheldon Oberman met Inuit artist/hunter Simon Tookoome, he knew the encounter was special. Still, he had no idea their meeting would result in an amazing collaboration that would span a decade. Through the use of many tape recordings and translations, Sheldon has painstakingly woven the threads of a remarkable man_s life into a book for all to treasure. With Tookoome_s drawings to enhance the text, Oberman has managed to express the cadence and voice of one of the last of the Inuit to live the traditional nomadic life in the Arctic. The Shaman_s Nephew magically transports readers to a cold climate that warms and grows more familiar with every turn of the page.
Synopsis
Just a few short decades ago, Inuit families roamed one of the harshest climates on the planet, communing with nature and living in uncluttered harmony with their environment. Simon Tookoome, then just a child, was one of those people and now shares his engaging memories in this unique book. Each of the 28 short stories deals with a different aspect of Inuit life: choosing suitable names for newborns, hunting and fishing for sustenance, the mystic endeavors of Shaman, the dangerous spiritual nature of the Northern Lights and fascinating and humorous first encounters with Kabloonaq (white people).