Northwest Books

The Inupiaq Eskimos live in an inhospitable region of Alaska where "the Arctic Circle crosses it about seventy-five miles (120 km) north of its Southern border." This is the area of northwest Alaska bordered by the Chukchi Sea. Burch is a research associate at the Smithsonian Institute who has written previous books on his specialty of Native American peoples of the Far North. He documents in detail the way of life of this particular Eskimo group which during the course of each year migrates to certain areas mostly along rivers and the coastline. Although as with practically every Eskimo group, the Inupiaq immemorial way of life and its customs are changing, Burch manages to make an accurate, complete record by "combining the information provided by the documentary and oral sources into a coherent whole." The Eskimo oral sources--mostly elders born in the late 1800s--were complemented by written accounts by Westerners so that they were "mutually reinforcing." For instance, each of the sources described earlier generations of Inupiaqs as "warlike"; each reported the growing scarcity of whales occurring about the same time, when foreign traders first appeared, and so on. The first three sections of Role Differentiation, Solidarity, and Economic Process have many detailed illustrations and maps. The other main sections are Political Process and Integration Process. This is a work of anthropology and ethnography based on the classic criteria of professional, scholarly research, scientific observation and detachment, systematic organization, and a thoroughness which cannot be outdone. Though the traditional Inupiaq way of life will inevitably completely die out, with this work of Burch's, one will always be able to have an idea of what it was like.

Any college-level collection strong in Alaskan cultural insights must have Social Life in Northwest Alaska: The Structure of Inupiaq Eskimo Nations. It provides the third, completing volume in a series on the early contact period Inupiaq Eskimos of the region, and covers virtually every subject of importance to anthropological research of a hunter-gatherer society. Chapters survey economics, roles, politics and more and provide plenty of depth and detail in a remarkable survey.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A unique collection of native American masks who's beauty is breath taking. The amazing pictures contained here show in great detail the talent of those who created them. Each mask has a description of its use and they are shown in all their glory - each one has been re-created using traditional methods so that you get to see them as they were intened to be seen. Invaluable!

This book has beautiful photography and a striking diversity of masks. I wanted to buy this book after visiting a native history museum in Anchorage, AK. They had this book available as a reference with their collection of native masks. As an artist, I find the masks truly inspiring and this book gives lots of great examples!

I was deeply impressed by this first-class production. The stories are a bit simplistic, perhaps deliberately targeting the younger reader, but they are powerfully narrated by the chief on the enclosed CD. The artwork was breathtaking and contributed to a moving, well-conceived experience in the culture of the Northwest Coast Indian.

As a child born and raised not far from Chief Lelooska, reading this book and listening to the CD brought back many happy memories of sitting in the story lodge watching the Chief and his family make these stories come alive. Hearing his voice again and seeing the brilliant drawings in this book made me feel like I was right back there huddled in front of the fire. The drawings are so lifelike you can almost touch the masks and costumes. After reading this book, you will be searching your local art museum for displays of Chief Lelooska's carvings and masks. I would gladly pass this book down as a family heirloom and demonstration of the rich history and art of the Northwest Indians.

Great read for any outdoor enthusiast. High quality photos and historical accounts provide an entertaining and informative glance into flyfishing in this area. A few laughs as well along the way, you can't help but smile about lenghths some people go to to appease their fishing addiction!

I bought a few as gifts, they are very well received and comfortably occupy any den or coffee table.

This book is very well written, engaging, informative, and entertaining. I highly recommend it! Also, the color photographs are beautifully done.

A Still Point in Time
Gripping and fascinating story of two souls linked over the centuries--souls whose love is so powerful it transcends the grave. This reincarnation love story is masterfully written with rich and complex characters and a complicated plot that probes not only the high-concept issue of in-vitro fertilization in an older woman, but also the ethics of a college teacher-college student love relationship.

A Still Point in Time by Marsha Briscoe is an award winning time travel romance available from publisher RFIWest. The story is complex, mysterious, and imaginative. Try it for something totally different.

I was floored when I finally got my hands on a copy of this book. The number and quality of the pictures is outstanding. Though there are both photos and drawings (I usually prefer photos) the level of detail in each hand drawn illustration is first rate. Illustrations are of recovered artifacts, both those with a known purpose as well as some who's purpose is as yet unknown. Descriptions and additional pictures of the use of the tools/artifacts makes this book a fine addition to any bookshelf.

It's been awhile since I picked it up, but I was impressed by the ease with which a layperson could understand the intricacies of the lore and ethnology of the Native Americans. The photographs and drawings are beautiful, the information about artifacts and culture are accurate.

I am so happy Loretta Outwater Cox has begun the journey of documenting a part of our lifestyle. Being Inupiaq and from Ipnatchiaq (Deering), I remember how my grandparents Jack and Ina Tiepelman, would pass on stories and preservation skills, both verbally and through actual participation. Loretta's books both this one and "The Winter Walk" depicts much of how I learned everything I know about my culture and lifestyle. Even into the 1950's, life as these books depicted was very similar, times were hard, we had very little western cultural influence, sure we now had books and knew the english alphabet so we could document information but basically we still lived in a harsh environment with only basic necessities and even though times were hard, it brings back fond memories. I thoroughly recommend these books.

This is an excellent follow-up to "The Winter Walk," an old survival tale from the Arctic. Here Loretta Outwater Cox sets the scene so perfectly.
In the 1920s in Northwest Alaska, six middle-aged women meet in a sod house to tell stories and draw pictures about characters, animals, camp sites, the land, rivers, lakes, oceans and much more.
Each woman is handed a cup of tea when she arrrives and each has her special place to sit on the floor of the cozy sod home.
The stories have many themes --family, tradition, basic survival and hope. Sometimes, just celebrating life.
Cox also weaves in stories about the six women and their lives, including a grandmother raising her grandson, and worrying about so many changes in the community, and whether he will remain grounded in the culture.
Cox says she learned the stories from her parents, grandparents and relatives, and that she has such admiration for both the stories and those who told and retold them.
Find a cozy, warm place some winter evening, brew a pot of tea, and enjoy the book.

My children love me to read any one of the chapters aloud to them before bedtime. The language is almost magical and so descriptive that you can almost see it as a visual image. The stories take place in a time before everything became modernized. It's a book to keep and treasure for years!

Written by Gordon Zima, Sunbirds and Evergreens: The Nuk-Chuk Stories is an anthology of stories inspired by the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. Some tales are fictional; some are grounded in truth or legends. The anthology follows a Native American boy named Nuk-Chuk, who is approaching the difficult journey into manhood. He learns what it is to become mature from the animals, from the process of exploration, and from the challenges he faces both without and within. Black-and-white artwork by Paul Zima enhances this absorbing coming-of-age saga.

This book shows the history of Mount Rainier National Park, from Sunset to Paradise. The photos are great and the paragraphs are informative and don't run on. The book also goes into the history of the 14,411 foot Stratovolcano, and how 5,600 years ago, the peak was at 16,500 feet, but a major eruption caused a massive collapse and created the peak we know, love and cherish today.

The Sleeping Giant... The Mountain...Mount Rainier...

Years ago I hiked at Mt. Rainier, took pictures in its flower meadows, and slid in its summer snow. I thought someday I'd climb its glaciers to the summit, 14, 410 feet. That never happened. But this book brings back all the old impressions and delights-and adds to them. Lots of photos (280!). Lot of information, most of it new to me. Richard P. Kratz, M.D. Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology Univ. California, Irvine

As one who grew up just a block from No 26th & Proctor St's I highly recommend this wonderful historical review of this neighborhood shopping district during the 20th century. The pictures tell it like it was and they cover almost everything of any importance that went on there.

A great read for anyone who is interested in Tacoma. Lots of key photograps on the fire station, Washington school, bowling alley and many other landmarks including the building where the NW shop is now.

Seeing the historical buildings through the years in this small neighborhood is pretty amazing.

Thanks for writing this book Bill.