Ihalmiut country, report that, as of mid-1952, twenty-seven Ihalmiut still survived but that their condition was deplorable and they were existing principally on handouts from the soldiers, who appear to be showing a good deal more humanity than has our government
.
Perhaps after all the Ihalmiut are no more than ghostly shadows who can be erased from existence, and from history, in order that men of little conscience can sleep easier
.
Mr. Farquharson’s reaction to this, and to a second letter from me, was this refusal to print either of them:
Obviously if we run your letters we are duty bound to show them to Porsild first, so you can understand why we do not wish to continue this controversy
.
To my surprise (and undeniable relief) the public paid little attention to this new assault upon
People of the Deer
and its author. In fact, by the end of November the entire ruckus seemed to have receded as harmlessly as summer lightning.
There was, however, a brief eruption in the House of Commons in mid-January 1953, when the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon, Robert Knight, queried the Honourable Jean Lesage, Minister of Resources and Northern Affairs, about my book. The following direct quotation is from
Hansard
. *
Mr. Knight:
… The last time this subject was under discussion I brought to
[the Minister’s]
attention certain allegations that had been made in “People of the Deer” by Farley Mowat. I think that at that time the Minister said he would look into the subject … if the allegations in the book are true it is a terrible indictment of neglect upon the part of somebody
.
[Mowat’s]
allegations were that a certain tribe of Eskimos have been allowed, through various circumstances, to disintegrate and that in fact their numbers were decreased and depleted through starvation.… I should like to know if the Minister has anything to tell us about it. It is a rather serious business. It involves the lives of people. It involves their extermination by starvation.… What are the comments of the Minister upon the whole situation …?
Mr. Lesage:
I said, and I do not believe I can say anything more
, [the book]
is false, the allegations are false. If the Hon. Member wishes to have a detailed criticism
[Porsild’s review]
of that book indicating the extent to which the information upon which the book is based is false, I am sure that my office and my Deputy Minister
[the man who had fired me from the government service when Fran and I were at Brochet]
would be delighted to send it to the Hon. Member.… There is nothing more false than that part of the book which says that a certain tribe was allowed to perish by starvation. There is no grounds at all for that allegation.… I do not have in mind all the facts concerning the allegations in this book but I shall be delighted to have an officer give the Hon. Member all the information he requires in order that his soul, as a Member of Parliament, may be at peace, and that he will not believe he has been at fault in allowing starvation to occur in this country without any measures being taken against it
.
Mr. Knight:
Since the Minister has said categorically that these things are false, I should like to say that I too have
information from what I consider to be a fairly competent authority stating that such allegations are largely true…
.
Mr. Lesage:
At the time the book was written and the events occurred to which my Hon. Friend has referred, I was not very well versed in either northern affairs or Eskimo affairs. However I am now informed by responsible officers in my Department that the information in the book is false.… My officers are in a position to satisfy
[Mr. Knight]
that there was no delay by the proper officers in doing what was necessary to cope with an emergency
.
Mr. Knight:
I think it would be wise if the information which the Minister asserts his officers can give were to be given publicly to the whole country
.
Mr. Adamson [a
.
Perhaps after all the Ihalmiut are no more than ghostly shadows who can be erased from existence, and from history, in order that men of little conscience can sleep easier
.
Mr. Farquharson’s reaction to this, and to a second letter from me, was this refusal to print either of them:
Obviously if we run your letters we are duty bound to show them to Porsild first, so you can understand why we do not wish to continue this controversy
.
To my surprise (and undeniable relief) the public paid little attention to this new assault upon
People of the Deer
and its author. In fact, by the end of November the entire ruckus seemed to have receded as harmlessly as summer lightning.
There was, however, a brief eruption in the House of Commons in mid-January 1953, when the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon, Robert Knight, queried the Honourable Jean Lesage, Minister of Resources and Northern Affairs, about my book. The following direct quotation is from
Hansard
. *
Mr. Knight:
… The last time this subject was under discussion I brought to
[the Minister’s]
attention certain allegations that had been made in “People of the Deer” by Farley Mowat. I think that at that time the Minister said he would look into the subject … if the allegations in the book are true it is a terrible indictment of neglect upon the part of somebody
.
[Mowat’s]
allegations were that a certain tribe of Eskimos have been allowed, through various circumstances, to disintegrate and that in fact their numbers were decreased and depleted through starvation.… I should like to know if the Minister has anything to tell us about it. It is a rather serious business. It involves the lives of people. It involves their extermination by starvation.… What are the comments of the Minister upon the whole situation …?
Mr. Lesage:
I said, and I do not believe I can say anything more
, [the book]
is false, the allegations are false. If the Hon. Member wishes to have a detailed criticism
[Porsild’s review]
of that book indicating the extent to which the information upon which the book is based is false, I am sure that my office and my Deputy Minister
[the man who had fired me from the government service when Fran and I were at Brochet]
would be delighted to send it to the Hon. Member.… There is nothing more false than that part of the book which says that a certain tribe was allowed to perish by starvation. There is no grounds at all for that allegation.… I do not have in mind all the facts concerning the allegations in this book but I shall be delighted to have an officer give the Hon. Member all the information he requires in order that his soul, as a Member of Parliament, may be at peace, and that he will not believe he has been at fault in allowing starvation to occur in this country without any measures being taken against it
.
Mr. Knight:
Since the Minister has said categorically that these things are false, I should like to say that I too have
information from what I consider to be a fairly competent authority stating that such allegations are largely true…
.
Mr. Lesage:
At the time the book was written and the events occurred to which my Hon. Friend has referred, I was not very well versed in either northern affairs or Eskimo affairs. However I am now informed by responsible officers in my Department that the information in the book is false.… My officers are in a position to satisfy
[Mr. Knight]
that there was no delay by the proper officers in doing what was necessary to cope with an emergency
.
Mr. Knight:
I think it would be wise if the information which the Minister asserts his officers can give were to be given publicly to the whole country
.
Mr. Adamson [a
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