Locals and outsiders in Aklavik, N.W.T.: an anthropological analysis of a multi-ethnic community

• Main Author: Eades, Joseph William
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1971
• Subjects: Aklavik; Arctic; Indian; eskimo*; Metis
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5956/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5956/1/Eades_JWilliam.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5956/3/Eades_JWilliam.pdf

This work concerns the relationships and interaction that exist between Outsiders and Locals in a multi-ethnic settlement in the Canadian sub-arctic. The Outsiders are non-permanent white residents, usually, but not always, representatives of various government, commercial and religious institutions. The Locals include Eskimo, Indian, Metis and white residents who look upon Aklavik, or at least the North, as their permanent home. Each of these groups, Locals and Outsiders, displays its own particular social and cultural characteristics. The development of the two groups and the type of relationship that exists between them is described in historical and contemporary perspective. -- Specifically, the work focusses on two influential Aklavik residents and their relationship is analysed in respect to two settings. In the context of the Settlement Council the government administrator (Outsider) has considerable influence and emerges as patron with Mrs. Stockholm (Local) as his client. Their relationship is reversed in the setting of some special events in Aklavik and Mrs. Stockholm demonstrates her ability to recruit the administrator as her client. - The norms, values and behaviour pertaining to both Outsiders and Locals are discussed in relation to these two settings. On the macro-level (e.g. the Council) Outsider values predominate and the Locals respond with behaviour characteristic of 'atomistic'-type societies while symbolically competing with the Outsiders. On the micro-level (e.g., special events) Local values predominate and the Locals are seen to display situational leadership and communalism while engaging in direct competition with the Outsiders.