Company of Adventurers by Peter C. Newman
It is hard to travel in Canada’s north and not be reminded of the legacy of the Hudson’s Bay Company. This excellent chronicle outlines the achievements, blunders and lasting impact of one of the world’s most storied corporations.
Being Caribou by Karsten Huer
Co-founder of the Yukon to Yellowstone Conservation Initiative, Karsten Huer’s honeymoon was unlike any other. Spending five months following the movement of the Porcupine caribou herd this meditation on wilderness, freedom and the relationships is a book for the ages.
Kings of the Yukon by Adam Weymouth
Many northern rivers are defined by the presence of fish but perhaps none more so than the Yukon River and the Coho salmon that migrate 3,000km to their spawning grounds. In this captivating book the delicate balance that forms the basis for so much life is shared in its full glory. From the challenges of managing a vitally-important waterway to the incredible biology of these magnificent fish each page of this book will educate and inspire!
Ancient Mariner by Ken McGoogan
Ken McGoogan makes the list for his ability to bring stories that are hundreds of years old to life. For those interested in the Coppermine River and the Northwest Passage, the adventures of Samuel Herne will absorb you. From going to sea at the age of 12 to learning to travel overland from the local First Nations, this remarkable tale will open your eyes to the realities of northern travel that continue to inform adventurers today.
Northern Wildflowers by Catherine Lafferty
The first memoir written by a Dene woman, Northern Wildflowers is Catherine Lafferty’s memoir and her account of coming of age in the North. Catherine shares with honesty and strength her struggles and triumphs as a Dene woman and a mother. This memoir offers a glimpse into the present day realities on Dene territory and the beauty and resilience of the human spirit.
Death Wins in the Arctic by Kerry Karram
The Wind River valley is home to the tale of an RCMP patrol that resulted in the tragic death of all four members of the patrol. In Death Wins in the Arctic, Kerry Karram recounts the “Lost Patrol of 1911” all the way to its ill-fated end. Based on the diaries of Inspector Francis Fitzgerald, Karram creates a day-by-day account of the brutal conditions the patrol faced and the missteps that led to their demise.