The White Girl: True North Stories

The last of the Canadian Indian Agents travels north to the tiny Native Village of Fort Norman located on the Mackenzie River in the North West Territory of Canada, now called Tulita. He brings with him his wife and four small children. The year is 1965, this ancient world is enveloped in the throes of change. Skidoos are replacing dog teams, English is being heard through the cracks of the walls of rough cabins at night. This hard clipped language replacing the soft sing-song of slavey that up until now has been the primary language along the River, used daily everywhere except in the classroom. The Indian Agent's daughter is a gregarious girl of seven. She struggles to speak this new language and tries to comprehend why she is treated differently by the people of the native village. She watches as men in white shirts arrive in small planes to discuss treaties, self-government and atomic bombs. In awe she sits with all of the other kids in the banks of the Mackenzie, ears covered with hands as the magnificent blocks of dirty ice smash and collide on their earth shaking journey to the Arctic Sea. Travelling by Komatik she watches as seals are hunted on the frozen vast vista of the Arctic Ocean. Islands float high in the sky as mirages, with brilliant spring sunshine glistening off of a million ice diamonds. Fermented seal flipper, an Eskimo delicacy is indescribable. These are true stories of a time now gone forever. Step into a segment of Canadian History that few people are aware of. This is living history as most of the people in this book are still alive and their real names are used. Their way of life has gone forever, but these memories live on. A simpler life. These are True North Stories, this is The White Girl.