Aux glaces polaires: Indiens et esquimaux

A vivid chronicle unfolds as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate recounts three‑quarters of a century of missionary work in Canada’s far‑north. Blending personal observation with ethnographic detail, the narrative paints the stark beauty of the Arctic—from the frozen shores of Lake Athabaska to the icy reaches of the Gulf of the Great Arctic Ocean. It offers listeners a rare glimpse into the early twentieth‑century encounter between European priests and the Indigenous peoples they sought to serve.

The author’s journey, guided by Bishop Breynat, alternates between summer canoe trips and winter sled expeditions, bringing him face‑to‑face with rugged outposts and the resilient communities that inhabit them. He records the daily hardships of travel, scarce supplies, and the delicate balance of faith and survival, while also describing the warmth of hospitality found in remote villages. These early encounters set the stage for a broader story of cultural exchange and spiritual dedication.

Written with a reflective, modest tone, the work balances reverence for the missionaries’ devotion with an honest portrayal of the peoples and lands they encountered. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of Arctic geography, early ethnology, and the human spirit that endured in one of the world’s most unforgiving frontiers.