From The Tundra To The Trenches (first Voices, First Texts)
by Eddy Weetaltuk /
2016 / English / PDF
6.7 MB Download
“My name is Weetaltuk; Eddy Weetaltuk. My Eskimo tag name is
E9-422.” So begins
“My name is Weetaltuk; Eddy Weetaltuk. My Eskimo tag name is
E9-422.” So beginsFrom the Tundra to the Trenches.
From the Tundra to the Trenches.
Weetaltuk means "innocent eyes" in Inuktitut, but to the Canadian
government, he was known as E9-422: E for Eskimo, 9 for his
community, 422 to identify Eddy.
Weetaltuk means "innocent eyes" in Inuktitut, but to the Canadian
government, he was known as E9-422: E for Eskimo, 9 for his
community, 422 to identify Eddy.
In 1951, Eddy decided to leave James Bay. Because Inuit weren’t
allowed to leave the north, he changed his name and used this new
identity to enlist in the Canadian Forces; Edward Weetaltuk,
E9-422, became Eddy Vital, SC-17515, and headed off to fight in
the Korean War.
In 1951, Eddy decided to leave James Bay. Because Inuit weren’t
allowed to leave the north, he changed his name and used this new
identity to enlist in the Canadian Forces; Edward Weetaltuk,
E9-422, became Eddy Vital, SC-17515, and headed off to fight in
the Korean War.
In 1967, after fifteen years in the Canadian Forces, Eddy
returned home. He worked with Inuit youth struggling with drug
and alcohol addiction, and, in 1974, started writing his life’s
story. This compelling memoir traces an Inuk’s experiences of
world travel and military service. Looking back on his life,
Weetaltuk wanted to show young Inuit that they can do and be what
they choose.
In 1967, after fifteen years in the Canadian Forces, Eddy
returned home. He worked with Inuit youth struggling with drug
and alcohol addiction, and, in 1974, started writing his life’s
story. This compelling memoir traces an Inuk’s experiences of
world travel and military service. Looking back on his life,
Weetaltuk wanted to show young Inuit that they can do and be what
they choose.From the Tundra to the Trenches
From the Tundra to the Trenches is the fourth book in the
First Voices, First Texts series, which publishes lost or
underappreciated texts by Indigenous writers. This new English
edition of Eddy Weetaltuk’s memoir includes a foreword by
Thibault Martin and an introduction by Isabelle St-Amand.
is the fourth book in the
First Voices, First Texts series, which publishes lost or
underappreciated texts by Indigenous writers. This new English
edition of Eddy Weetaltuk’s memoir includes a foreword by
Thibault Martin and an introduction by Isabelle St-Amand.
