Society & Culture
For decades, The Beaver depicted Indigenous societies as primitive peoples in need of “civilization.” In actuality, the magazine’s images reveal vibrant cultures, resilient communities, and crucial new perspectives on the North. Karine Duhamel, Ph.D., who is Anishinaabe-Métis, wrote “Life on the Land” in our special centennial issue. “As an Indigenous person, I am looking at the pictures in The Beaver differently. I am looking at the things that make Indigenous peoples and communities strong, which are family and kinship and connection to the land. For me, that’s what stands out in the images.” Photo: Inuit children leap across large supply sacks at Frobisher Bay, in what’s now Nunavut, circa 1960 in this photo by British photographer Rosemary Gilliat. The image appeared in the Winter 1962 issue in a story on children in the North. [Credit: HBCA-1987-363-E-210-018]