As ruggedly beautiful as the circumpolar north in which it evolved, the Canadian Inuit Dog has been a vital partner to the Arctic's indigenous people for millennia, helping them travel, navigate, hunt and survive in their frozen world. Deeply researched and passionately written, this deft and respectful exploration of this ancient landrace's history, genetics, form and function also chronicles the Inuit Dog's clashes with modernity, which threaten its existence more ominously than any Arctic blizzard. KIRKUS REVIEW A dissertation on an extraordinaryaboriginal working dog that enabled humans to explore Earth's polar regions. Ottawa, Ontario-based librarian Hanwas introduced to Canadian Inuit dogs by her late daughter, Siu-Ling Han, wholived on Baffin Island, part of Canada's Arctic archipelago. Siu-Ling bred andraised her dogs according to Inuit traditions and led her hearty sled teams ontreks through hundreds of miles along the Arctic tundra. The author began thisdebut volume as a course assignment at the Institute for Children's Literature,and it resulted in a full-length, in-depth compendium that explores theimportance of this unique dog to traditional Inuit culture. In Inuktitut, theInuit language, the word for dog is " qimmiq ,"and dogs have a special status that's separate from the rest of the animalkingdom. Aboriginal dogs are domesticated, but they've "never been developed byany planned genetic manipulation," according to an academic paper by VladimirBeregovoy that Han quotes. The dogs and the ancestors of the Inuit peopleshared a seminomadic lifestyle for at least 1,000 years; however, the secondhalf of the 20th century brought disease, societal changes, and snowmobiles,which posed challenges to the animals' survival. For example, cultural misunderstandingsresulted in the deaths of thousands of Inuit dogs over multiple decades;wandering canines were killed by officials who saw them as threats to thepublic. In this book, Han relies heavy on meticulously sourced, secondary research,which is truly comprehensive. However, the use of in-text references sometimesinterrupts the flow of the narrative. Similarly, the author's extensivediscussion of scientific nomenclature for various dog breeds is unlikely tointerest many casual readers. Serious dog enthusiasts, however, will find thatthere's a wealth of information to be found, including a detailed breakdown ofexternal and internal physiological features that distinguish Inuit dogs andenable them to thrive in Arctic environments. Han's interviews with Inuitelders are especially captivating, as are the many full-color photos that sheincludes of the dogs and their surroundings. A poignant, engaging, and illuminatingtribute to a vanishing breed. "A delightful read, uplifting, well documented, educational, and a must on your reading list even if you have never had a dog of your own." - S. Morrison A researcher and librarian from Ottawa, Kim Han met the Canadian Inuit Dog through her daughter, Siu-Ling, a wildlife biologist who worked with and bred these dogs for almost two decades in Nunavut in Northern Canada. Kim has dedicated this book to her amazing daughter, and its proceeds will help fund programs for Nunavut youth.