Northern Waterways Reference Collection

Author: Stefansson, Vilhjalmur

Title: My Life with the Eskimo

Year: 1921

Publisher: New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons 

Pages: 697

Source: Google Books  

Related: The Stefansson-Anderson Arctic Expedition (1919)

Description: A personal account of the Stefansson-Anderson Arctic Expedition of the American Museum of Natural history from 1908-12. 

"[Stefansson] had improved his technique as an explorer by learning first hand the mechanics of launching an expedition, and improving his skills in negotiating to keep the enterprise alive when its sponsors seemed skeptical.  Moreover, he had gained such success so as to widen immeasurably his base of support, bringing him immediate fame, as well as controversy.  His find of primitive Eskimos in Victoria Land, the methods he applied to their investigation, and the controversies generated by his theories had catapulted him into world headlines and put his northern pursuits on an altered course.  The four years of this expedition had enhanced his influence with American scientific institutions, and with important forces within the Canadian government.  Once he had learned how to handle them, he had created an expedition on its own merits, combining his force of argument with a friendly assertiveness that could not be denied.  Stefansson admited that he could "talk a man into anything if he didn't know me ... I have at least meant well at times' (Diubaldo 1978:57) ...

"Another factor in Stefansson's favour [of obtaining financing] was the articles he had written for popular media, proposing revolutionary new approaches in Arctic exploration, practices that other polar explorers, including Robert E. Peary, in fact adopted to some extent.  Stefansson maintained that the cost of traveling in the Arctic could be greatly reduced by following Inuit ways and living off the land and ocean resources, as the local people did, instead of taking along extensive supplies of clothing and food.  Stefansson's articles created a considerable stir, and opinions were divided concerning his proposals.  Some people called his declarations populist and irresponsible, while others were more receptive.

"Among those who appeared to have been impressed by Stefansson's claims were the directors of the American Museum of Natural History.  After some discussion, Stefansson concluded an agreement with the museum and with the Canadian government for an arctic expedition" (Palsson 2003:89-90).