The Land Was Always Used: An Inuit Oral History of the Franklin Expedition
In 1847, Sir John Franklin, 128 crew, and two powerful ships disappeared while trying to map the elusive Northwest Passage. Inuit knowledge of Franklin’s voyage led to finding the wreck of HMS Erebus in 2014; the discovery of HMS Terror followed in 2016.
But the stories of land and sea around Qikiqtaq (King William Island) neither began nor ended with Franklin. While the subject of The Land Was Always Used is the Franklin expedition, the primary focus is on the Inuit experience of it. The book does not reveal new information about lost European explorers—rather, it provides an intimate portrait of people and place and their ancient relationships, and the fact that the Franklin expedition was just one small chapter in the long history of Inuit.
Available in both English and Inuktitut, and French and Inuktitut, The Land Was Always Used was written by Connie Wren-Gunn of Know History Inc., in collaboration with Edna Ekhivalak Elias, C.M., O.Nu.; Knowledge Holders and community members in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut; the Nattilik Heritage Society in Gjoa; and Parks Canada.
The Land Was Always Used features amazing photographs by award-winning photographer Michelle Valberg. It is a book that anyone interested in Inuit culture and history or the Franklin expedition will treasure and share for years to come.
Gallery
The purchase price is $60 + tax. Shipping is included on domestic orders; however, for international orders, shipping fees (dependent on location) and a fulfillment fee of $10.55 are in addition to the sale price. To order your copy of The Land Was Always Used, please fill out the form below. The Nattilik Heritage Society will contact you with more information. All proceeds from the sale of the book go back to the Nattilik and the community of Gjoa Haven.