The May pick for @erinanddanisbookclub and their year of Indigenous memoirs was a very educational one! I wasn’t aware of William Iġġiaġruk Hensley, an Iñupiaq politician, but his life story is interesting nonetheless. Hensley is 79 now, so he does a remarkable job of fitting his very full life into a rather short memoir. I particularly liked the parts detailing his semi-nomadic childhood in Alaska!

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His adult life is just as fascinating, although some parts felt rather dry, possibly just because it was very political. But his drive and determination to secure land rights for Native Alaskans was incredible to read about. I also enjoyed reading his thoughts on increasing individualism in the US, in sharp contrast with the tight bonds of his community. He has lived a long time, so it’s interesting to see the changes through his eyes, as capitalism made its way to Alaska and disrupted their way of life (there was a particular section on dental hygiene and how that changed after traders arrived that captivated me for some reason!).

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Really illuminating, especially if you don’t know much about Alaska and the states Indigenous peoples! The writing is straight forward and descriptive, providing a clear picture of Hensley’s life and achievements. I might have liked a little more reflection, as it was very much told straight through like a story, but we do get some insight into his inner thoughts as well as his history