NICOLE GOMBAY'S new book on an Inuit community's economy

The following is a book published recently by my friend, Nicole Gombay. You may purchase it through the publisher or order it at your favourite bookstore.

Gombay, Nicole. Making a Living: Place, Food, and Economy in an Inuit Community. Saskatoon, Purich Publishing Ltd., Dec. 15, 2010.
www.purichpublishing.com

Although food is vital to our daily lives, we tend to be unaware of the particulars of where it came from and how it was produced. We simply go to the market and buy what we need in neatly packaged containers. But what was required to get that food there in the first place? In some societies obtaining food is not merely a matter of going to market. Instead it involves the active participation of community members in its harvesting, distributing, and sharing so that ideally no one goes without. Such is the case of many Indigenous communities, including Puvirnituq, the Inuit settlement in Northern Quebec that is the setting for this book.

Until recently, most residents of this Arctic village made their living off the land. Successful hunting, fishing, trapping and gathering, so vital to people's survival, were underpinned by the expectation that food should be shared. As the Inuit were in some cases drawn and in others forced to move into settlements, they have had to confront how to accommodate their belief in sharing to the demands of a market economy. Rooted in phenomenological engagements with place, and using the commoditization of country foods harvested from the local environment as a vehicle, the author documents the experiences of an Inuit community as it strives to retain the values rooted in life on the land while adjusting to the realities of life in settlements.

In this thoughtful and well-researched book, the author documents her experiences and personal reactions while living in Puvirnituq. Quoting local residents and drawing upon academic literature, she explores how some Inuit are experiencing the inclusion of the market into their economy of sharing. While the subject of the study is the Inuit community of Puvirnituq, the issues the author addresses are equally applicable to many Indigenous communities as they wrestle with how to incorporate the workings of a monetized economy into their own notions of how to operate as a society. In the process, they are forging new ways of making a living even as they endeavor to maintain long-standing practices. This book will be of interest to anyone concerned with the struggles of maintaining local values in the face of market forces.

Educated in Canada, Nicole Gombay teaches Geography at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

$33.00, 232 pages, 2 maps, 17 photos, index, bibliography, paper, 6 x 9, winter 2010 ISBN 978-1895830-590

SIGMA MINES, BOURLAMAQUE, QUEBEC. PHOTO OF MINE 'FAMILY'

Photo taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

WINTER EVENING WITH A TORONTO BOOK CLUB

It was a wonderful experience to attend a book club of women in their 30s and 40s who had read my novel, Ile d'Or, and wanted to discuss it with me. We sat in a circle in a warm living room with the fireplace on low (one of those winter days when it was already supposed to be Spring, but this was Toronto in March when anything can happen). The first question was posed by Debra, who had invited me to the evening. How did you start to write? Etc. So I told them the story about my grandmother (Louise Moore) who was the food editor for the Toronto Telegram when I was growing up in that mining camp up north who included stories in her columns as well as recipes. Those stories often had to do with unusual exploits of the town and/or of her three grandchildren who lived there of whom I was the eldest. And that when I was 7 she accepted and included a poem I had written in her column for which she sent me $5. I told the women I was misled into thinking that writing might be a lucrative profession. Everyone laughed and we were off to a fine start.

Their questions and comments were insightful and interesting. And no one commented on the historical error in the book I've previously confessed to have made until I asked if anyone had noticed it. Indeed, Kelly had. She said she wouldn't have commented on it if I hadn't raised it, so I was glad that I had. It didn't seem to spoil anyone's enjoyment of the book. It was interesting to hear that Kelly had lived in Montreal during the time of the FLQ, so was particularly attuned to the events surrounding those dark days.

The host for the evening, Nicole, had made pieces of cooked meat on skewers with tortiere flavours and maple syrup pie in honour of the novel, set in Quebec and with at least one banquet that included some typical Quebecois food. Not being a meat eater, I'm not sure how the meat on skwers compared with traditional tortiere, but I can say that the maple sugar pie melted in my mouth and elicited wonderful memories. And everyone who had either of these delicacies was impressed.

Every time I read from my book(s) or answer questions, the experience is different and I learn something new as well. I'm always glad to have the opportunity.

KINGSTON READING

Oh yes, and then there was the reading at Novel Idea Bookstore in Kingston on March 10th. I read from my novel, Ile d'Or, and Elizabeth Greene read both from her latest book, Moving, and also some new poems written when she was in Chile at a workshop recently.

Novel Idea is one of those independent bookstores that enhance a community and make you feel welcome. The owners, Oscar and Joanne, are personable and knowledgeable with a good selection of books to choose from. What a delight. As were the treats Joanne and Elizabeth provided before and after the readings. I ought to have asked Joanne for her recipe for macaroons! Instead, I was pleasantly occupied with different people who had come to the reading who wanted to know more about either me or one of my books.

Thanks to Novel Idea!

Butter Tart Squares

This is not a recipe blog, but I tried out some squares this weekend and took them to my milonga workshop where they were demolished quickly. I told one friend I'd give her the recipe and decided to type it on my blog and make it more widely available. The original recipe is from Toronto Star and when I tested it this weekend I made slight variations. As follows: lemon juice and cinnamon were added by me. Also original recipe prefers all raisins, but suggested other measurements for raisins and nuts, which I prefer.

Butter Tart Squares

1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cold, unsalted butter

Filling:
2 tbsp. unsalted butter melted, cooled
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 to 1 tsp. lemon juice (fresh)

pinch salt
slightly more than a pinch of cinnamon
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In medium mixing bowl, mix flour and sugar. Using pastry blender or fingers, cut in butter till crumbly. Press into 9" square cake pan or 8" for thicker crust and filling layers(not sure what size pan I used, something that appeared standard!). Bake in preheated 350 oven 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

For the filling, stir butter and eggs in medium bowl. Stir in sugar, flour, baking powder, vanilla, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt. Stir in raisins and nuts. Pour over base. Bake in preheated 350 oven until top springs back when lightly touched, 20 t0 25 minutes. It took longer than this, but I checked then and cooked it until the top was nicely medium browned and sprung back as indicated.

Let cook in pan on rack. Cut into squares. These were even nicer the next two days, at which point they were all gone. The number of squares depends on what size you cut them.