Review by Linda Green

Caribou Girl
By Clair Rudolf Murphy

The author has written severy award-winning books, She is a teacher consultant with the Alaska State Writing Consortium, she conducts writing workshops wil students and teachers and lives in Fairbanks, with her husband and two children.

Illustrated by Linda Russell forward by Jana Harcharek
Published by Robert Rinehart Publishers, Boulder Colorado 1998

Linda Russell is an artist who lives in North Pole, Alaska. Her wildlife art has been shown in numberous exhibitions including the Anchorage Audobon Art Exhibition of Alaska Wildlife and the Wildlife and Western Exhibit in Minnesota. Her five part Native Alaskan Mythology print series was shown on the Alaska TV Artist Series on Alaska's Best online Internet magazine.

Forward comment by Jana Harcharek. Caribou Girl's story helps generate a renewed sense of trust in our traditional ways. Her journey also demonstrates my people's connection to the land, the very essence of our lives. Caribou Girl must rely on her instincts and inbred values to make decisions that will affect everyone in her world. These decisions are as difficult to make today as they must have been in earlier times. Many of my Inupiaq people believed and some still do today in Moon Man (Tatqiq) who controlled the game animals. Not as well know as the goddess Pakimna, Mistress of the Caribou. We also believed that long ago animals and humans could go back and for the between the two worlds and that shamans like Pakimna not only helped heal people, but served as contact with the animal and spirit worlds. Shamans could be male or female, though female shamans were less common that male ones. Today my people still use and study our Native language and have renewed their interest in our legends, beliefs, dancing and traditional arts. Long ago our people lived in caribou skin tents (itchalik) while following the caribou. Today most Inupiat live in permanent villages and towns. However we continue to support our subsistence culture by fishing and hunting, especially the caribou that still roam over northern Alaska

1. Does Native terms for people of certain areas fit all?
I am not sure, but the comments by Jana Harcharek, for verifiying the cultural aspects of the story, and James Nageak for reviewing the story would tell me that terms are used correctly.

2. How are the pictures illustrated?
All the pictures seemed to reach out at the reader.

3. Language Usage?
All of the language used in this book was O.K. For example the author talks about the animals, and the beliefs of the shaman. It was all positive and I feel reviewed by Inupiaq people.

4. Name Usage: Do Native names sound quite different from the normal?
Yes, but again the reviewers are Inupiaq.

5. Is all the clothing the same?
All the clothing in the pictures are made of skin, and animal furs.

6. Look for respect toward animals, land, and other people.
Respect is given to all. One of the author's on research says, "Inuit believe that the earth does not belong to them, but rather that they belong to the earth. Every object, tool, and piece of clothing was created for their survival. Traditionally the inuit honored the animal spirits that they hunted.. Hunters wore carved amulets to give them special powers. Children wer often named after deceased relatives whose qualities they shared."

7. Is the continuity of the culture represented with values, morals, and an outgrowth of the past, connected to the future?
Again because of the Inupiaq reviewers, I believe so.

8. Are ceremonies described properly?
Same answer as #7

9. Does the writer show any understanding of the relationship between material and non material aspects of life?
Comments on research done before writing the book are in Author's and Illustrator's Note . We have researched the nomadic lifestyle and myths of the northern Inuit, and the migration patterns of the caribou to create this fisctionl story of long ago. Inuit occupy a larger region of the earth than any other ethnic group. The various Inuit tribes share a common cultural and biological makeup, speak related languages and share similar stories. In traditional times they followed the caribou, which provided for many of their needs.10. Does white authority figures know better than the Native people themselves what is good for them?
No white figures are included in the story. Its told by a non native but has respect for the Native perspectives .

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