Indiana

The New Northwest Passage, published by Great Plains Publications, tells the story of Cameron Dueck's voyage through Canada's Northwest Passage, describing the climate change, political and economic challenges faced by Inuit communities, while putting the entire story in the historical context of Arctic exploration. See www.OpenPassageExpedition.com for more information on the journey. This book combines the story of a grand adventure with reportage on a place people and topic of global importance. The voyage of the yacht Silent Sound through the Northwest Passage is one that captures the imagination of any armchair adventure, combining a route of historical importance with a personal storytelling style that offers a glimpse of the determination and inspiration needed to tackle such feat. Cameron tells the story of sailing through the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic with just three crew and the ticking clock of Arctic sea ice setting the pace. Their goal was to sail the passage unassisted and learn more about how the Inuit are coping with climate change. The four-month voyage carried them through raging storms and mechanical breakdowns and took them into sea ice that threatened to crush Silent Sound’s hull. But more importantly it brought them face to face with modern Arctic life in tiny, isolated communities where the challenge of climate change is added to the already crushing load of social and economic woes. Each hunter, teenager, community leader and scientist Cameron met long the way added their story to the colourful tale of life in the Arctic – all told in the context of climate change. In each port Cameron met someone who dashed his romantic notions of Inuit life and instead showed him that while they live in a very unique place, they don’t live in a different time. The Inuit share many of the fads, concerns and conveniences of southern urban life – making their interaction with climate change all the more relative for readers. Using his voyage as the narrative tool, Cameron tells the story of modern Arctic life and how debates over sovereignty, mineral resources and cultural assimilation are all part of the climate change experience for the Inuit. This book is of interest to the international sailing community and those interested in climate change and environmental issues. It will also appeal to the armchair adventurer as it tells the story of how a dream became a plan, and the plan was put into action. Pre-release praise for The New Northwest Passage: “With the eye of a journalist, the perspective of a historian, and the soul of an adventurer, Cameron Dueck set forth for the Great White North on what, at first glance, seemed like a most unlikely attempt to successfully negotiate the famed Northwest Passage under sail. Along the way, he endured crew revolts, busted gear, debilitating illness and endless self-doubt. But his trials and tribulations yielded a reward: an unparalleled portrait of the people and landscape undergoing radical changes at the wildest, most fragile end of the earth. Honest, funny and unsparing, The New Northwest Passage is a sobering, insightful tale.” Herb McCormick, Senior Editor, Cruising World. "Lots of people dream of quitting the rat-race, buying a boat and sailing away to the Caribbean or the South Pacific. But few do the first two and then embark on a voyage through the Northwest Passage. Hats off to Cameron Dueck: he acted, made good, and now he's written a compelling book about it." Ken McGoogan, author of The Fatal Passage Quartet “The book is an engrossing string of vignettes about life in the real Arctic, not the Arctic of tourism brochures and adventurers’ tales. Dueck has a faithful and sympathetic ear for the people of the Arctic and how their lives are changing.” Clive Tesar, Head of Communications & External Relations, WWF-Global Arctic Programme "There's never a dull moment --- you feel as if you were there.” E. C. Pielou, author of A Naturalist's Guide to the Arctic. "In an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones, Cameron Dueck sets out to find the 'Arctic Grail'." Michael Byers, Author of Who Owns the Arctic?

• published: 22 Feb 2012
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