Edna Wilder Libri

Still the definitive guide, Secrets of Eskimo Skin Sewing is packed with clear, easy-to-understand instructions, drawings, and photographs to lead readers of any skill level through the process of turning natural or man-made furs and hides into handsome, useful garments. Author Edna Wilder, one of the world's best-known practitioners and modernizers of traditional Eskimo skin sewing techniques, takes would-be skin sewers through the step-by-step work involved in constructing traditional items of clothing such as mukluks, parkas, and mittens. She also includes sewing instructions for belts, baby booties, a trapper-style fur cap, and toys.Though natural fur and hides were the only ones known in traditional Eskimo lifeways, the book's guidance is completely adaptable to modern, synthetic leathers and artificial furs. Similarly, the guidance offered in these pages on traditional Native beadwork and basket making works just as well for plastic beads and basketry materials unknown to the Alaska wilderness.

Through the lens of her Eskimo mother's experiences, Edna Wilder vividly recounts a year in an ancient village near Alaska's Norton Sound. The narrative highlights the resilience and spirit of her mother amidst the harsh climate, emphasizing family values and subsistence living. Rich in oral storytelling tradition, it captures the cycles of life and the now-lost lifestyle of the Bering Sea community. This engaging account offers readers a glimpse into the day-to-day life, legends, and beliefs of the Eskimo culture, appealing to audiences of all ages.

Set in early twentieth-century Alaska, the story follows Minnie, an Eskimo girl, as she navigates life after meeting her first white man. The narrative explores her marriage to the Englishman and their shared journey through adversity, technological change, and personal tragedy along the Bering Sea. Enhanced by photographs of Eskimo village life, it offers a vivid portrayal of resilience and cultural heritage, capturing the essence of a bygone era on the Seward Peninsula.