Report of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-18: Volume XII: The Copper Eskimos

1923

Scientific Expedition Reports Q115 C2 1913 vol. 12

Ottawa: F. A. Acland

Wellington-born, Diamond Jenness (1886-1969), was employed by Canadian Arctic Expedition leader, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, as an ethnologist. In his own words, Jenness was ‘to study their [‘Copper Eskimos’] physical anthropology, technology, and archaeology.’ He spent two years living with the indigenous people of the Coronation Gulf region, between mainland Canada and Victoria Island, in the Arctic Circle. Within the nomadic band he attached himself to, Jenness was ‘adopted’ by Copper Inuit hunter Ikpakhuak and his wife Higilak (pictured here). This volume is the anthropologist’s report of his experience. Jenness’s research helped to cement his reputation as an eminent ethnologist, and in 1926, he became Canada’s Chief Anthropologist.