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Minuk: Ashes in the Pathway

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Publisher: Pleasant Company Publications, 2002
ISBN # 1-58485-520-7

Author and Illustrator Written by Kirkpatrick Hill

Kirkpatrick Hill was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska and received degrees in English and education from Syracuse University in New York. She has been an elementary school teacher for more than thirty years, spending most of her time in multigrade classrooms or one-room schoolhouses in the Alaskan "bush." She is the author of two other books set in Alaska, Toughboy and Sister and Winter Camp. The mother of six children and the grandmother of three, Ms. Hill currently lives in Fairbanks, Alaska.Illustrations by Patrick Faricy Pleasant Company Publications, 2002.

Grade Level: n/a

Theme: Historical Fiction

Status: Not Recommended

Review

Minuk: Ashes in the Pathway is a book detailing the life of a young Yup'ik girl as imagined by the non-native author, though very little documentation exists of Yup'ik women and girls during that period of time, the 1800's. Unfortunately, Elder Annie Blue was puzzled with the title Minuk:Ashes in the Pathway and when we found the passage where the title was derived from (the protocol for the use of ash within the Yup'ik culture) it made her all the more upset. She stated, "This young girl knows too much about life, in reality she would not understand nor have heard of these practices." And "We do not just spread ashes anywhere especially in the pathway-that is not the custom of our people." In addition Annie expressed that within the Yup'ik culture, knowledge of this nature is sacred and not to be shared shamelessly in public. As we continued to read and translate the text to her she became more upset and we couldn't keep up with all the comments she made as she identified misconceptions that it was portraying of our people. There are too many inaccuracies for this book to be used to teach about the Yup'ik culture. A young mind and person who does not have sufficient cultural grounding will begin to believe the inaccuracies about themselves and their people.

This book is not recommended!

Season: n/a

Suggested Teaching Topics: Use at College Level: Sample of Incorrect Information, SPECIFICALLY FOR A YUP'IK WOMEN'S STUDY CLASS.



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