Penina Keen Spinka

This book is set in the 1300s in Greenland and continues the saga of Picture Maker, focussing on her daughter Ingrid. After her mother’s death, Ingrid returns with her father Halvard and her two half brothers Ole and Leif, to the Norse settlement in the south of Greenland. Here they struggle to fit in, Ingrid as she is seen as a “half-breed”, the product of her Norse father and her Ganeogaono (Mohawk) mother, and her father as he clings to the old gods rather than the new religion Christianity. As the settlement struggles under invasion by the English and then by a swarm of butterflies, the family heads north to seek shelter with the Inuits. The remaining Greenlanders return either to Iceland for assistance or sail in search of Vinland, a coastal area of Canada explored by the Vikings under Leif Erikson in 1000AD, centuries before Columbus discovered the Americas. Although the Inuits are also despised by the Norse and called “skraelings” Ingrid still struggles to fit in here and accustom herself to such a strongly patriarchal society where the women’s role is predominantly to support the hunters and chew the leather to soften their boots. Ultimately she makes a journey to find the land of her mother’s people the Ganeogaono (now called Kanienʼkehá꞉ka in their own language).

I found this a fascinating time and setting, and a well researched insight into the cultures of the ancient Norse, the Inuits and the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka with their Clan mothers and traditions. Ingrid was a strong and relatable character. My only complaint was the end felt somewhat rushed and neatly tied off. 4.5 stars for me.… (meer)

My review from June 21, 2003:

"Walk in another's moccasins" with this fascinating Odyssey!

This is a fascinating study of Northeastern Native American culture during the 14th-15th centuries A.D.. In this coming-of-age tale, Picture Maker, a young Iroquois girl experiences Algonquin, Naskapi, and Inuit culture first hand before she discovers her ultimate destiny in Greenland.
Into this fascinating and romantic tale, Ms. Spinka intricately weaves the cultural traditions of each group of Native Americans as well as the history of the Norse in Greenland (as a matter of fact, the description of the Norse in Greenland has inspired me to eventually read Jane Smiley's THE GREENLANDERS, as discussed by Ms. Spinka in the "Author's Notes"). She capably shows the social and religious differences - both the good and the bad - of all the cultures discussed and truly makes the reader understand what it is like to "walk in another person's moccasins". This book is wonderful for gaining a deeper sense of cultural understanding and tolerance - I think older adolescents would enjoy this book as well as adult readers!… (meer)