The Last Speaker of Bear: Encounters in the Far North

The Last Speaker of Bear is a collection of vignettes about a life spent traveling in the north from Alaska to Siberia, exploring undeveloped landscapes and traditional cultures. Lawrence Millman developed a reverence for the wisdom of indigenous and native communities and painted a picture of people living in tenuous conditions but rooted in a faith that their worlds will provide for them. Relationships with bears, caribou, reindeer, walruses, seals, whales, and abundant avian life serve spiritual, companionship, and sustenance purposes. Millman reminds us of the potency of endangered knowledge and the importance of paying close attention to the natural world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 08 December 2022
Publisher: Trinity University Press,U.S.

The Last Speaker of Bear is a captivating tale that unfolds across a lifetime of exploration in the northern regions, spanning from Alaska to Siberia. Lawrence Millman's journey began in northern Canada as a child, and since then, he has embarked on thirty-five expeditions in search of untouched landscapes and indigenous cultures. While his experiences primarily take place in Canada, including territories from Yukon to Quebec and Newfoundland/Labrador, he also shares stories from villages in Greenland, Iceland, and Norway.

From an early age, Millman developed a deep reverence for the wisdom of indigenous and native communities with rich histories spanning centuries. These communities include the Inuit, Inuk, Innu, Alutiiq, Cree, and many others. Whether he was savoring mushrooms, fungi, tobacco leaves, or unconventional foods that would have made even renowned chefs like Andrew Zimmern or Anthony Bourdain wrinkle their noses, or venturing into the northern tundras, rugged mountains, or remote islands, Millman painted a vivid portrait of people who often faced challenging circumstances but remained firmly rooted in a profound faith that their worlds would provide for them.

Relationships with bears, caribou, reindeer, walruses, seals, whales, and a diverse array of avian life serve spiritual, companionship, and sustenance purposes. These connections are deeply intertwined with traditions rooted in family and community rituals, as well as lost languages, natural medicine, and time-tested ways to navigate difficult situations.

In this collection of vignettes, Millman serves as a reminder of the immense power of endangered knowledge and the critical importance of paying close attention to the natural world. Through his storytelling, he transports readers to a life in remote places, thousands of miles away from the fast-paced, urban world many of us inhabit. The Last Speaker of Bear offers a unique perspective on the beauty and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and it serves as a call to action to protect and preserve the rich tapestry of indigenous cultures and knowledge for generations to come.

Weight: 220g
Dimension: 126 x 178 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781595349859