Terasmae, Jaan

English

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206 1 REVIEWS presentation  of  the  characteristic  speech  patterning  and  Cruikshank’s sensitivity to the women’s vivid metaphorical phrasing preserved even in English are elegant and satisfying. Some native terms are necessarily  incorporated  into  the  texts  because  each  woman  in  these matrilineal  societies  followed  the  approved  cultural  pattern  of  begin- ning  her  personal  account  with  a  genealogy  of  her  ancestors - first the  mother’s  line  and  then  the  father’s - and  also  because so much of the  oral  narrative  is  intimately  tied  up  with  native  place  names  in the local landscape. The three genealogical charts and a glossary of native  terms  are  useful  aids  for  those  who  block  at  the  sight of unfa- miliar  linguistic  terms  and  orthographies. The  book  is  not  a  study  either  of  interaction  between  traditional oral  performers  and  non-literate  audiences.  Cruikshank  and  her  native collaborators knew that times had changed drastically since the women  were  young.  In  fact,  a  major  thrust of each  of  the  life  stories is  how  the  protagonists  adapted  to  or  resisted  the  changes, and their conscious  effort  was,  with  the  aid of Cruikshank,  to  transmit  their  life stories  to  a literate younger  generation.  As  such,  their  endeavours  are very  much  part of the  current  scene  in  Yukon  and  countless  other places where natives wish both to preserve and to learn from key aspects of their  heritage. Life Lived Like a  Story is  a  superb  model  of how  this  can  be  done.  It  is  a  work f true  collaboration  between  native and  non-native.  It is also  a  sophisticated  and  ground-breaking  contri- bution to anthropological scholarship and practice, adding signifi- cantly  to  our  understanding  both of northern  Tlingit  and  Athapaskan culture history and of the nature of orally transmitted life histories. Embodying  mutual  respect  and  understanding,  this  book  points  to  the kind  of  relationship  between  native  Americans  and  anthropologists that  both  groups  can  increasingly  hope  for  in  the  future  and  from which  both  can  profit  equally.  Beyond  all  that,  all  readers  sensitive  to the human condition, no matter what the cultural context, will find the  lives  of  these  women  and  their  ways  of  conveying  them  to  be absorbing  and  unforgettable. Cruikshank  adds  in  a  postscript  to  her  preface  that  Kitty  Smith died  in  1989,  before  the  book  was  published,  and  that  Annie  Ned  was awarded  the  Order of Canada  in  1990.  It  is  sad  to  have  to  report  the death in November 1991 of Elijah Smith, Annie Ned’s son by her first  husband,  a  native  leader  well  known  throughout  Canada  and  the founder  of  the  Council  for  Yukon Natives. With great  regret  I must  also record  that  Angela  Sidney  died  in  July  1991.  For  good  reason  several major  Canadian  newspapers  noted  her  passing  and  paid  tribute  to  this unparalleled  storyteller  who  tried  to  live  her  life  “like  a  story.” Catharine  McClellan University of Wisconsin Madison,  Wisconsin 53706 U.S.A. QUATERNARYGEOLOGYOFCANADAANDGREENLAND. GEOLOGY OF CANADA, No. 1. Edited by ROBERT J. FULTON. Ottawa:  Canadian  Government  Publishing  Centre,  1989.  839 p.. 5 folded maps in  box.  Hardbound.  Cdn$70.00 ( in  Canada) ,  US$84.00  (other  countries),  plus  postage  and  handling. The  publication of this  volume  marks  a  very  significant  milepost in  the  studies of Quaternary  geology  in  Canada  and  perhaps  also  in Greenland.  Compared  with  previous  reviews of Quaternary  geology of  Canada,  this  is by far  the  most  comprehensive,  detailed,  and  up-to- date treatise on the subject. The truly monumental task has been admirably  accomplished by  the  editor  and  the  many  authors,  who  all deserve  full  credit  for  a  very  difficult  job  well  done.  In  view of the geographical  size  and  geological  complexity  of  the  regions  covered in  this  work  and  the  great  variety of available  information,  the  syn- thesis  of  the  total  data  base  into  one  volume  is  remarkably  successful. However,  because  of  the  vast  amount  of  information  contained  in  this book,  it  is  certainly  a  challenge  and  requires  considerable  effort  and persistence  to  read  it  from  cover  to  cover.  For  this  reason,  it  is  a  diffi- cult  book  to  review - a  problem  exacerbated by the  fact  that  this volume  also  covers  many  aspects of Quaternary  research  in  addition to  geology  in  the  narrow  sense.  In  my  opinion  this  particular  aspect of the  work  is  a  major  strength of the  book  and  it  can  serve  as  a  source of  reference  data  and  inspiration  to  both  professional  Quaternary geologists  as  well as to  students  and  many  “friends of the  Quaternary” in  the  more  general  sense. The  839-page  book  and  the  box of maps  are  attractive  in  appear- ance  and  sturdy  enough  to  withstand  long-term use  in any  reference library.  I  consider  this  to  be  a  definite  asset,  because  I  have  several volumes in my own library that have fallen apart rather quickly in spite of tender  loving  care.  The  use of colour  in  illustrations  is  a  very pleasing and helpful feature. Typographical errors are rare, indeed, and indicate excellent editorial management of the publication. On pages  7  and 8 we  find  “Innuition  Region”  and  “Innuition  Ice  Sheet” instead of Innuitian  Ice  Sheet.  Also  on  page  7,  lower  case  is  used  for “Cordilleran  ice  sheet,”  whereas  elsewhere  it  is  consistently  capital- ized - Cordilleran  Ice  Sheet. The Canadian territory is subdivided into six physiographic regions: 1) the Cordilleran region, 2) the Interior Plains, 3) the Canadian Shield, 4) the St. Lawrence Lowlands, 5) the Atlantic Appalachian  region,  and  6)  the  Queen  Elizabeth  Islands. Under  the  heading  of  “Canadian  ice  sheets,”  four  subdivisions  are recognized: 1) Canadian Cordillera - equivalent to Cordilleran ice and the Cordilleran region; 2) Central Canada (further subdivided into: a) Canadian Shield, b) Interior Plains, c) St. Lawrence Low- lands,  and  d)  Arctic  Lowlands); 3) Atlantic  Appalachian  area;  and  4) Queen  Elizabeth  Islands  area - equivalent  to  the  Innuitian  region north of the  Parry  Channel. However,  as  shown  in  Figure  4,  there  is  also  an  overall  subdivi- sion  into  four  ice  sheets:  1)  the  Laurentide  Ice  Sheet  (further  subdi- vided into three sectors - Keewatin, Labrador, and Baffin), 2) the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, 3) the Innuitian Ice Sheet, and 4) the Green- land  Ice  Sheet. The  reader  might  notice  in  the  Foreword  that  “the  Laurentide  ice” does  not  mean  the same thing  as  “the  Laurentide  Ice  Sheet”  because “Throughout  this  volume  the  name  Laurentide  Ice  Sheet  is  reserved for  the  Wisconsinan  inland  ice  sheet.  The  ice  cover of central  Canada of  other  ages  is  referred  to  as  Laurentide  ice  or  inland  ice”  (p.  9). At  least  some  of  this  complexity  (or  confusion?) of definition  is caused by  the  different  schools  of  thought  with  regard  to  the  incep- tion,  growth,  and  decay of the  inland  ice,  as  correctly  pointed  out  by the  editor  in  the  Foreword. Since  most  chapters of Part 1 of this  book  were  prepared  during 1984-86,  with  some  additions  made  in  1987,  it  can  be  expected  that further  research  might  clarify  some of these  problems of definition and  complexity.  In  the  same  context of problems,  there  seems  to  be considerable uncertainty concerning the chronological sequence of events that fall beyond the range of radiocarbon dating. Perhaps a separate  review-type  chapter  on  Quaternary  geochronometry  might be  warranted  in  a  future  edition of this  book? The  editorial  introduction  (Foreword,  11 p.) provides  a  very  use- ful  summary of the  development of Quaternary  studies  in  Canada. In a  similar  manner,  all  three  parts of the  book  have  a  separate  introduc- tion  and  all  chapters  begin  with  a  summary.  This  editorial  feature provides  the  reader  with  a  means  of  quick  reference  to  the  different units of subject  matter. The  body of this  treatise  is  divided  into  three  parts:  Part  1  (regional Quaternary  geology - 6 chapters),  Part  2  (applied  Quaternary  geol- ogy - 6 chapters),  and  Part  3  (Quaternary  geology of Greenland - 2  chapters).  Each  chapter  contains  a  separate  listing  of  references, and  the  volume  concludes  with  an  Index  (p.  823-839),  which  is  quite helpful  in  finding  specific  information  on  particular  events,  features, and  other  items of interest  to  the  reader. The  six  chapters of Part  1  (p.  17-478)  follow  the  physiographic  sub- divisions of Canada.  In  general  terms  the  format of each chapter includes  the  geological  setting  and  background,  Quaternary  processes, the ice sheet, stratigraphy and history, environments, and economic aspects of Quaternary  geology.  The  number  of  chapter  authors  ranges from  eight  to  one  and  they  have  collectively  succeeded in presenting a  well-coordinated  and  integrated  picture  of  the  heterogeneous  and wide-ranging subject matter. The differing opinions and interpreta- tions of various  aspects of Quaternary  geology  have  been  presented fairly  and  there  does  not  appear  to  be  a  bias  in  favour  of  any  particu- lar  concept. Part  2  (p.  481-738), on the  applied  aspects of Quaternary  geology, also comprises six chapters: chapter 7, Quaternary environments as documented by paleobotanical case histories; chapter 8, Quaternary geodynamics; chapter 9, geomorphic processes; chapter 10, terrain geochemistry; chapter 11, Quaternary resources; and chapter 12, Quaternary  geology’s  influence  on  man’s  environment.  This  innova- tive  and  significant  part  of  the  volume  extends  beyond  the  more  con- servative  bounds  of  geology  in  the  traditional  sense  and  clearly demonstrates  the  central  position  of  geosciences  in  the  global  envi- ronmental  context,  especially  with  reference  to  human  population  and activities. The  subject  matter  covered  by  chapters  of  Part  2  on  resources (soils,  peat,  aggregate,  placers,  etc.),  various  aspects of land use  (plan- ning, engineering, hazards), and geochemistry are particularly wel- come  for  the  generalist  reader  who  might  not  be  expert  in  Quaternary geology but who can beneficially use the geoscience information within  the  scope of his  or  her  field  of  specialization,  which  may  be,  for example,  in  social,  political,  or  medical  research. One  could  argue  that  chapter  10,  on  terrain  geochemistry  (p. 645-  663),  is  rather  short  in  view of the  geological  and  general  environ- mental  importance of this topic; perhaps it could be expanded in a future  edition of this  book. Those  concerned  with  current  environmental  problems  can  most certainly derive much useful information from chapters 7 (p. 481- Part 3 of this volume is divided into two chapters. Chapter 13 (p. 741-792)  provides  a  rather  comprehensive  coverage of the  ice-free areas and continental shelves of Greenland, including regional Quaternary  geology,  sea  level  changes,  paleoflora  and  fauna,  and  his- tory of climate, glaciation, and oceanography. Chapter 13 could be considered  one  of  the  best  available  reviews  and  syntheses  of  the Quaternary  history  of  Greenland. Chapter  14  (p.  793-822)  summarizes  the  information  and  concepts relating  to  the  Greenland  Ice  Sheet,  including  data  from  studies of ice cores  and  construction  of  dynamic  models  of  the  ice  sheet.  The  sub- ject  matter  presented  in  this  chapter  is  especially  valuable  in  the  con- text  of  global  environmental  change  research  because  of  the  unique types of data  obtainable  only  from  ice  cores. A supplementary set of five folded maps in a box is another advantageous  feature of this  volume.  Map  1702A  (Late  Wisconsinan and  Holocene  Retreat of the  Laurentide  Ice  Sheet;  published in 1987, scale 1 : 5 000 000) shows the postulated ice marginal positions at selected times during the last 18 000 years  and  the  names of major ice marginal deposits (for example, end moraines). Map 1703A (Paleogeography  of  Northern  North  America;  published  in  1987,  scale 1 : 12 500 000) is  a  set  of  three  maps  that  provide  eleven  “time  win- dows”  of  the  configuration  of  Canadian  ice  sheets  (including  ice domes and saddles, ice divides, ice flow directions, the extent of glacial lakes and seaways, selected radiocarbon dates, and past sea level elevations) at specified times during the period of 18 000 to 5000 years before present. Map 1704A (Status of Quaternary Geology Mapping in Canada with Bibliography; published in 1988, scale 1 : 7 500 000) is really a “progress report,” with references showing  the  development  of  Quaternary  geology  mapping  in  Canada since 1915 subdivided into “detailed,” “inventory,” and “reconnais- sance” categories. Although these maps will be revised to some extent  in  the  future  as  new  information  (and  perhaps  new  concepts?) become  available,  they  provide  an  excellent  time  and  space  perspec- tive of our  current  understanding  of  the  Late  Quaternary  changes  of the  Canadian  ice  sheets. In  spite  of  some  minor  and  rather  insignificant  criticisms  that probably relate to the reviewer’s own personal biases and idiosyn- crasies, this treatise on Quaternary geology and research in general superbly  fills  the  need  for  comprehensive  background  data  in  particu- lar  geographic  areas  and  for  specific  topics of Quaternary  sciences  in 539)  and  12  (p.  699-738). REVIEWS 1 207 Canada  and  Greenland  required by  a large  spectrum of readers.  It  can also  serve  as  a  general  summary of the  state  of  Quaternary  science  in Canada  and  Greenland  in  the  1980s. The potential  role  of  this  volume  in  facilitating  interaction  espe- cially  between  the  applied  Quaternary  geoscience  specialists  and  the generalist  users of geological  information  deserves  to  be  recognized as  an  important  feature  of  this  treatise. The  price  of  the book is  actually  a  bargain  when  compared  with other  similar  publications,  and  this  volume  is  fully  worth  the  invest- ment,  because  the  treatise  will  remain  a  major  source  of  reference data  for  many  years  to  come. Jaan Terasmae Department of Geological Sciences Brock University St. Catharines,  Ontario, Canada L2S 3A1 BOOKS  RECEIVED AN ANNOTATED  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  ANTARCTIC  INVERTEBRATES (TERRESTRIAL AND FRESHWATER). By WILLIAM BLOCK, with the assistance of SARAH-JANE BENTON, SUSAN CHAMBERS, PAUL HARRISSON, SHIM- RIT LAHAV. ANNA LAWRENCE and CLAIRE RYAN. Cambridge, UK: British Antarctic Survey, 1992. ISBN 0 85665 148 6. 263 p.. appendices, 7 indexes.  Softbound. f25. ARCTIC  CIRCLE  SONGS. By ROBBIE NEWTON DRUMMOND. Waterloo, Ont.: Penumbra  Press,  1991.  ISBN 0 921254  288.  74 p.. b&w  illus. Softbound. Cdn$9.95. BARRENLAND BEAUTIES: SHOWY PLANTS OF THE ARCTIC COAST. By PAGE BURT. Yellowknife:  Outcrop  Ltd.,  1991.  (Available  from Outcrop  Ltd., The Northern  Publishers, Box 1350, Yellowknife, N.W.T., XIA 2L9.) ISBN 0-919315-25-9. xv + 246 p., map, colour illus., bib., glossary, index.  Softbound. Cdd24.61 (includes  $2.00  shipping  and 1.61 GST). DISCOVER ALASKA, AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICA’S LAST FRONTIER.  Edited by ANNE HALLORAN, with Foreword by ART DAvIDSON. Bothell,  WA.  Alaska  Northwest  Books,  1992.  ISBN  0-88240-412-1. 64 p.. maps,  colour  illus.,  index.  Softbound.  US$8.95.  Cdn$10.95. MESSAGES FROM EARTH: NATURE AND THE HUMAN PROSPECT IN ALASKA. By ROBERT B. WEEDEN. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press, 1992. ISBN 0-912006-56-0. xiv + 189 p., maps,  index.  Softbound. US$16.95. NORTHERN HYDROLOGY: SELECTED PERSPECTIVES. Edited by T.D. PROWSE and C.S.L. OMMANNEY. Saskatoon:  Minister of supply and  Services Canada, 1991. ISBN 0-662-18742-3. x + 532 p., maps, b&w illus. (Available from Chief, Scientific Liaison Division, National Hydrology Research  Institute, 11 Innovation  Boulevard,  Saskatoon,  Saskatchewan  S7N 3H5.) PHYTOPLANKTON, ZOOPLANKTON, AND ICHTHYOPLANKTON IN RESURRECTION  BAY,  NORTHERN  GULF  OF  ALASKA IN 1988. By A.1. PAUL, J.M.  PAUL,  KEN  COYLE and RON SMITH. Fairbanks:  Alaska  Sea  Grant College Program, 1991. (Available from Communications Department, Alaska  Sea  Grant  College  Program,  University of Alaska  Fairbanks,  138 Irving 11, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5040.) 23 p. Softbound.  US$4.00. SOAPSTONE CARVING FOR CHILDREN. By BONNIE GOSSE and DAVE GOSSE. Waterloo, Ont.:  Penumbra  Press,  1991.  ISBN 0 921254  318. 48  p.. b&w illus.,  bib.  Softbound.  Cdn$12.95. THE AURORA WATCHER’S HANDBOOK. By NEIL DAVIS. Fairbanks: University of  Alaska Press,  1992.  ISBN 0-912006-59-5. ix + 230 p., b&w US$20.00, + 2.50  p&h. illus., colour plates, glossary, index. Hardbound, US$35.00; Softbound, THE BEGINNINGS  OF  METEOROLOGY. By MORLEY THOMAS. Toronto: ECW Press,  1991.  ISBN 1-55022-149-3. 308  p.,  notes,  index.  Hardbound. Price  not  indicated. THE  GEOGRAPHY OF THE  CANADIAN  NORTH. By ROBERT M. BONE. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford University Press Canada, 1992. ISBN 0-19- 540772-5. xi + 284  p..  maps, glossary, refs.,  index. Softbound. Cdn$19.95. WESTERN SUBARCTIC PREHISTORY. By DONALD w. CLARK. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Civilization, 1992. ISBN 0-660-12920-5. ix + 152 p.. maps, b&w illus., annotated reading list, appendix. Softbound. Cdn$14.95. WISAKYJAK AND THE NEW WORLD. By ADAM BALLANTYNE, woodcuts by ANNIE DOWNES CATTERSON, transcribed  and  edited by PRENTICE G. 

Quaternary Geology of Canada and Greenland. Geology of Canada, No. 1. edited by Robert J. Fulton

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Quaternary Geology of Canada and Greenland. Geology of Canada, No. 1. edited by Robert J. Fulton

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