Son of the Smoky Sea

New York: J. Messner, Inc, 1941. Presumed First Ed. (No prior dates printed). viii, 243 pages, 2 unnumbered pages: illustrations, plates, 2 portrait (including frontispiece); 24 cm. Map on lining papers. Fine in a very crisp fine(-) jacket housed in archival mylar. Tiny personal owner signature to front free endpaper ('hidden' in map. Hardcover.

A lovely copy. Uncommon thus. Author is half Inupiaq Inuit and half Norwegian. "Autobiography, till 1925, of a Norwegian-Eskimo boy Simeon Oliver (Nutchuk) and his life as he grew up in a mission home on Unalaska. Shows 20th century life of natives along the Bering Sea, particularly the Aleuts. / Contents: The treasure in the snow -- I find my home -- The gift from the sea -- Dr. Newhall, father, teacher, friend -- The Jesse Lee home, Christian outpost -- Cod-lines in the smoky sea -- Apprentice to Hippocrates -- Whaling -- The mine in the volcano -- I go outside -- American home -- Eskimo in college -- The girl at the piano -- My dear son -- I go back -- Little Man of the Tundra -- My own people -- Between two worlds. / "Simeon Oliver, also known as Nutchuk, was an Inupiaq Eskimo from Alaska who gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s as a spokesperson for his people and their way of life. He was known for his efforts to preserve Inupiaq culture and traditions, and he traveled widely to give talks and presentations about his people's customs and beliefs. One of Nutchuk's most notable achievements was his work on the book "Nutchuk: Lord of the Ice," which was published in 1972. The book, which was written with the help of author James Houston, tells the story of Nutchuk's life and provides a detailed account of traditional Inupiaq ways of life. Nutchuk was also known for his skills as a carver, and his works are considered fine examples of Inupiaq art. He often used traditional materials like ivory and bone in his carvings, and his works often depicted animals and scenes from Inupiaq mythology. Nutchuk's efforts to preserve and promote Inupiaq culture made him a respected figure both within his own community and among those interested in the cultures of the Arctic. His work continues to be a valuable resource for those studying the Inupiaq people and their traditions." / Eskimos -- Alaska -- Aleutian Islands. Inuit. Eskimos. Inuits. Inuits -- Alaska -- Aléoutiennes. Inuit. Eskimos. Miscegenation, Mixed Race