Nunavut Rocks and Minerals


This photo I took maybe 4 years ago just outside the capital of Nunavut, called Iqaluit. I lived there for nearly six years and absolutely loved it. I'm walking my dogs on a high ridge overlooking part of the airport. Month of June I believe. [ and yes, that is the ocean that freezes up! It takes an icebreaker in the first week of July to actually get rid of it!]

I wanted to tell you about a very special project I am involved with. I am the technical writer for a book on the minerals and rocks of Nunavut. Pretty much an identification field guide, but beefed up in some significant ways. The thing I am most excited about is that the book will be translated into Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit people. I believe it will be the first book of it's kind. The second significant portion is that there will be segments on the traditional usage of minerals and rocks by Inuit. Both these sections will be done by specialists in translation and in gathering of this information from elders. I'll just make sure that the contribution is attached to the right mineral or rock description. I can't wait to see the stories that are collected.

My part has been the geological text. The first draft was accomplished quite some time ago and the editing is well underway. I am also helping where I can with photos and illustrations. Again, other specialists are responsible for those parts.

A publication date of early next summer is proposed and I am very jazzed about the whole thing. I've had a ton of fun writing it. I would do this kind of work full time if I could find it.



Comments

  1. JohnSeptember 9, 2008 at 8:06 PM

    I have been to Nova Scotia once , what a neat place to go. I was only there a few hours, but I could see all the forests up there. I would like a fishing trip there someday !!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. J.September 13, 2008 at 3:19 AM

    Here on Magerøya (northern Norway) there are a lot of similar piles of stones. The bigger ones, with a cross on the top denote waking trails, the smallers ones are made by tourists who believe they have some magical meaning.

    ReplyDelete

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