Anauta: the only Eskimo woman on the American platform

              Figure





(Her name in Eskimo)



The Only Eskimo Woman on the American Platform
ANAUTA was born and grew to womanhood on the northern tip of Baffin Island, about 400 miles from the North Pole.  She was raised as a nomadic Eskimo — hunting, trapping, singing, laughing, chewing skins for boot making; living the life of a male Eskimo.  For her name ANAUTA (given to her at birth) was the name of a young man, son of a dear friend of the family, who that same night had been swept to his death off an ice-pan.  And thus was an Eskimo custom fulfilled; giving to the first baby born the name of the departed spirit so it would not be lost in space.

She became especially proficient in shooting seal, deer, and polar bear; driving dog sleds, building snow houses, preparing frost-cooked lean meat, and making beautiful garments from the skins, including chewing the skin for their warm water-proof boots.

Her inherent kindness impelled ANAUTA and her husband to go to the rescue of a young Scotch couple who had come to live in the far north, but who were absolutely ignorant of the methods used in order to be happy and comfortable there.  Then, adopting the baby of the young Scotch mother, who had died shortly after the baby's birth; seeing her husband and the baby's father perish when their canoe capsized, she was persuaded by the captain of a small trading vessel (which visited their shores once each year) to bring the baby, along with her own two little girls, to St. Johns, Newfoundland, where it could be raised by its grandmother.

At this port, by the sale of furs (which fortunately ANAUTA had brought with her) she came into possession (for the first time) of a considerable sum of money, which she, being nomadic, used to see-the-sights of a new world.  Many months of travel with her two little girls throughout Canada and the United States were brim-full of excitement as she gradually learned the Engish language, became educated, naturalized and learned the good and the bad in our American Way of Life,—an achievement surpassed by very few in American history.  Any small portion of this amazing life, as presented by ANAUTA, gives an audience a narrative of breath-taking interest — full of thought and opening a new Philosophy of Life.



Eskimo Speaker Amuses Chautauqua Audience
Chautauqua, New York, July 27, 1943.

(Where more noted people have spoken than at any other spot in America.)

Clad in what she called her Seventy Below Outfit, a petite Eskimo woman held her Chautauqua audience captivated Friday evening in the Amphitheater.  Waves of laughter swept over her appreciative listeners.

Anauta is her real name.  She is a native of Baffin Land and author of Land of the Good Shadows.  She came to our country unable to speak English and not acquainted with any of the complexities of the life we lead.  Hearing her tell of the struggle which she made to become acclimated, the audience was delighted with her stories of incidents related to this struggle.

She told many amusing stories which provoked hilarious response from her audience and gave them an insight into the good humor that is characteristic of the Eskimo.  Her stories were expressed in quaint and unexpected statements.  She made clear to her listeners that the Eskimo is a firm believer in the idea that this day is a complete thing.  Whatever the Eskimo does, whether it be to spread kindness or to have fun and enjoy himself he does it today, not waiting for the time to come when he must be kind and happy.

Anauta opened up a source of information about a little-known people and was so convincing that she narrowly escaped being besieged by individuals from her audience who were eager to know more.  It was with difficulty that she finally broke away from the admiring crowd.



Some of the Appellations Given to Her by Enthusiastic Committees:

ANAUTA — Of the AURORA BOREALIS.
ANAUTA — The White Seal of the Frozen Wastes
ANAUTA — From the Land of the GOOD SHADOWS
ANAUTA — The HUMORIST, From Baffin-Land
ANAUTA — A Brilliant Star of the Northern Lights






ANAUTA

ANAUTA is not a pen name, but her real name given to her at birth.  Among her people your name at birth is retained all through life whether married or not—no Mr., or Mrs., or Miss.  Picture a lady who was born and lived until she was a grown woman—where much of the time the temperature is 70 degrees below zero—and, up until the time of departure for Newfoundland, had never tasted any kind of fruit or vegetable.

Yet they know how to live comfortably under those conditions.  Stefansson (noted Arctic Explorer) has stated that the people of the far North are the happiest people on earth, and ANAUTA agrees with this statement.  The Eskimos of Baffinland are about as different from the Alaskan Eskimo, as is the average American.  No one seems to know the origin of the Eskimos of Baffin Island.  (ANAUTA has a strain of English in her blood.)  She and her two daughters are the only natives of Baffinland living in the United States; they have been here about 25 years.

You will be surprised at her description of the way her people live, it will destroy many misconceptions.  They never eat one bit of fat or blubber, live entirely on lean meat, which is frostcooked—no fire.  No such things as decayed teeth, contagious diseases, or bald-heads.

Her book, LAND OF THE GOOD SHADOWS, was published in December, 1940.  The Foreword was written by the late Sir Wilfred Grenfell; just three days before he died, in October, 1940.  ANAUTA was a close friend of Dr. Grenfell.  ANAUTA is now in the process of writing two other books dealing with the Far North.



Appearances have now been made in nearly every large city of America.  As Dr. Grenfell said:There is no other person in the world like Anauta.



HEADLINES in Newspapers, about Anauta . . .

New York Herald-Tribune, Book Review, Dec. 8, 1940:
An Articulate Eskimo Woman.


Muncie (Ind.) Evening Press, Nov. 16, 1940:
Anyone Who Can Stand Indiana's Climate Can Live Anywhere.


Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, Jan. 15, 1941:
Clocks Confusing To Native of Baffinland.


Athens (Ohio) Messenger, Feb. 28, 1941:
Civilization Not An Unmixed Blessing.


Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, Oct. 15, 1941:
She Speaks Fluent English Now.


Cincinnati Times-Star, Oct. 25, 1941:
Eskimo Puzzled How So-Called Civilized Persons Can Slay Each Other During War.


Boston Post, May 12, 1942:
Has Simple Way To Halt Divorce.


Newburyport (Mass.) Daily News, Nov. 13, 1942:
Eskimo Language Has 48 Letters.


Buffalo Evening News, Nov. 16, 1942:
Real Warmth Impossible As We Dress.


Kalamazoo Gazette, July 9, 1943:
Tells Amazing Story Of Life On Baffin Isle.


Purdue University Exponent, March 14, 1944:
Eskimo To Speak On Life In Arctic.


August (Ga.) Herald, Feb. 17, 1946:
Eskimo Woman To Address Kiwanis.


Vincennes (Ind.) Sun-Commercial, April 13, 1947:
Tells Of The Wrong Ideas People Of The U.S. Have About The Eskimos.


Chicago Daily Tribune, April 19, 1947:
Addressing The Executives' Club Yesterday.


Indianapolis News, Aug. 9, 1948:
Eskimo Woman Never To Know How Old She Is.


Chautauquan Daily, July 25, 1949:
On Baffin Island We Have No Use For Money.




NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Boston, Mass., Feb. 4, 1944

Indeed, ANAUTA was good.  Her appearance alone was interesting.  But her humor, her philosophy, her spontaneity (which proved her genuineness), with her command of English, meticulous enunciation, and carrying quality of voice; made a complete whole that won the unreserved admiration and applause of an especially Bostonian audience.  ANAUTA is in a class by herself.  Her story is unique, her personality charming, and her origin a drawing card in itself.

Florence Conant Howes (Chairman of Committee)



LOWELL THOMAS
Rockefeller Center, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1948

Your protege from Baffinland did her part in grand style.  She made a hit with everybody.

Best wishes, Lowell.



GINTER PARK WOMAN'S CLUB
Richmond, Virginia, Dec. 13, 1944

Thank you so much for sending us ANUATA.  I do not believe we have ever had a program more thoroughly enjoyed than the one she gave for us last Wednesday.  Her program appealed to our members because of her real simplicity—and because she herself was so inspiring.

Mrs. Leland L. Miller, 3407 Chatham Road.



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
St. Petersburg, Florida, April 7, 1944

Dr. John P. Jockinsen, Minister

We were all delighted with ANAUTA.  She drew an audience of something over 2,000 people.  Our main auditorium was filled and we had an overflow crowd of several hundred in our Community House where they listened by loud speaker.  She delighted everyone.

Helen W. Conwell, Secretary



St. Petersburg, Florida, March 13, 1944

Your ANAUTA made a record for herself in Florida, and I know you will be hearing from many people who will wish to contact her for future engagements.  Thanking you for sending us ANAUTA.

B. Louise Woodford



REID MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Augusta, Georgia, April 3, 1946

ANAUTA'S visit to Augusta, February 17 and 18, was a tremendous success.  We had a packed church on Sunday night and I suppose some of the people would be there still, listening to her and asking her questions, if they could have their way about it!  In her address to the Kiwanis Club on Monday, she was unusually forceful and interesting.  I have heard ANAUTA a number of times and I believe that this was the best address I have yet heard her make.  The men of the Kiwanis Club were enthralled by her brief, terse, humorous talk.  We shall hope to have her in Augusta again.  She never fails to enthrall her audience.  It was a real treat to all who met her and heard her.

Dr. Massey Mott Heltzel (Minister)



GREATER BUFFALO ADVERTISING CLUB
Buffalo, N. Y., May 15, 1942

ANAUTA proved to be a very unique attraction and something certainly entirely new for us to dish out to our large membership; who, as you know, are used to hearing the best fifty-two weeks of the year.  She made a very good impression both to our audience and guests in attendance, as well as those committee members who came in contact with her both before and after the meeting.

Floyd M. Crawford, Executive Secretary.



MARSHALL COLLEGE
Huntington, West Virginia, Dec. 12, 1944

ANAUTA was one of the finest personalities that we have offered our students.  I find myself thinking back over her talk, and I do believe she gave me more to think about than a dozen books on any subject.  I hope every college in America will present her to its students.

Curtis Baxter



COLORADO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Denver, Colorado, Nov. 23, 1945

We had such a good report from ANAUTA'S previous engagement that we asked her to return.  She gave the audience a wealth of information on life in Baffin Land, and I would unhesitatingly recommend her to other groups.

Alfred M. Bailey (Director)




THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF MINNEAPOLIS
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nov. 10, 1943

ANAUTA was very definitely a success.  We commend her wholeheartedly to anyone desiring a pleasant and unusual afternoon or evening of entertainment and instruction No one had any trouble hearing her voice in our auditorium.  She talked one hour and fifteen minutes, but there were so many questions she was kept on the platform another half hour.  Both at the luncheon and at the reception after the program, ANAUTA was most charming and agreeable to all who met her.

Mrs. Arnulf Ueland (Program Chairman)



W. G. N.
Chicago, Ill., April 16, 1944

CHICAGO BROADCAST: Distinguished Guest Hour.  More requests were received for ANAUTA'S radio script than anyone else on our nine months' program.

W. Frank McClure



DEPAUW UNIVERSITY
Greencastle, Indiana, Nov. 3, 1941

ANAUTA delighted a large audience; her lecture was perfectly timed.  The main thing which the faculty and students commented about was her philosophy of life.  Her influence on the college was wholesome.

Clyde E. Wildman (President)



SHENANGO VALLEY EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Sharon, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6. 1941

ANAUTA held them closer than any other speaker we have had in the five years of our existence.  I heard many comments after the lecture, that it was the most enjoyable thing they had ever heard.

William R. Pool (Treasurer)



NORTH BROADWAY METHODIST CHURCH
Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1947

Men's Club (Annual Ladies' Night)

I can say without qualification that ANAUTA made good. The comments were all very favorable; one young man from Ohio State University said he considered it one of the best talks he had ever heard—the most interesting of its type.  It was a very successful program, and thanks again for sending us such a fine attraction.

Arthur B. Collmer



STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE
West Chester, Pa., March 29, 1949

We would like to consider ANAUTA for the Summer Session.  You will recall that she spoke to our Assembly in the spring of 1946.  Our students then were extremely interested in her story, and have frequently referred to incidents which she related at that time.

Leone E. Broadhead (Chmn.: Chapel Program Committee)



COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF GREATER CINCINNATI
Dr. Harry K. Eversull, Secretary
501 Union Central Bldg.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1942

I was present at Rotary Club when ANAUTA was the feature.  She was exceptionally fine; the men gave her undivided attention.  The attention was so good that at times it was almost tense; one could have heard a pin hit the floor.  The reaction of the men afterward was universally fine.  She has a real story to tell and she tells it interestingly; she weaves humor through the narrative, much of it spontaneous, and she grips her audience with her simplicity.  We all enjoyed her tremendously, I imagine there were 300 Rotarians present—perhaps more.

Sincerely,
H. K. Eversull



THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF LOUISVILLE
Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 11, 1942

ANAUTA came on the 9th and was most enthusiastically received.  I don't remember when our club has had a speaker that seemed to appeal to our membership as did ANAUTA.  She was most gracious, so sincere; and her simple philosophy of life was most inspiring.  Her keen sense of humor is most refreshing; you can rest assured—ANAUTA was a huge success.

Mrs. C. D. Major, 417 Kensington Court



BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellevue, Mich., Feb. 14, 1947

The people were so fascinated that they remained to talk with her long after the regular lecture was over.  Personally, I don't know when I have had the pleasure to meet so fine a personality—it was indeed one of the highlights of my life.

Lela E. Osgerby, Librarian




DETROIT TOWN HALL
Detroit, Michigan, Nov. 28, 1947

Harry C. Heffner, Moderator

ANAUTA pleased, informed, and inspired, our audience at TOWN HALL today!!!  Every one of them gave rapt attention to her interesting story and the wholesome philosophy she makes so attractive.  Her answers to the many questions were classics, especially the one about religious worship in her country.  You know how beautifully she presents the picture of their view of the Aurora Borealis.  It seems that everywhere I go I hear high praise of ANAUTA.  I have not felt happier about a triumph at TOWN HALL in all my years with it.  Management, audience, and many who have only heard about her and her lecture from friends, all express enthusiasm.  We liked her message; and we liked her, personally.

Cordially,
Harry.



WESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Kalamazoo, Mich., July 12, 1943

Our audience was completely captivated by ANAUTA and I am so glad you called her to my attention.  We had an audience of over 2,000 students and townspeople; they listened with rapt attention; they asked questions during the question period,—they came backstage in great numbers and we had to ask them to leave in order that the building might be closed for the night.  We are, therefore, particularly pleased when we can present a lecturer who is received with such enthusiasm.

Dr. Elmer H. Wilds



CHICAGO EXECUTIVES' CLUB
Chicago, Illinois, May 14, 1947

Since ANAUTA was on our program I have received several comments from members of previous program committees for our Club, regretting that they were such doubting Thomases when they had a chance to engage her during previous years; as they were like the rest of us ... very, very, much pleased with the refreshing difference that she brought to our members and guests, through her most unusual story of her experiences.  I don't hesitate to recommend her unreservedly to any organization that is looking for an attraction that will be different, interesting, instructive, and at the same time, very amusing.

Frank E. Spencer, Chairman, Program Committee



OTTUMWA WOMAN'S CLUB
Ottumwa, Iowa, Dec. 16, 1945

Our audience was very much pleased with ANAUTA.

Mrs. Frank P. Hofmann, Program Chairman



PROGRAM MAGAZINE
New York City, February, 1944

ANAUTA is one of the rare novelties that every so often come to the platform.  It is hard to believe when she is talking to you that she is an Eskimo—born in Baffinland, but 400 miles from the North Pole.



IRONTON ROTARY CLUB
Ironton, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1944

Again, ANAUTA rang the bell as a Four-Star Attraction, at the Rotary-Lion meeting in Ironton on Dec. 11; and at the Kiwanis meeting in Ashland, Ky., on Dec. 12.  She delighted both audiences and they were very enthusiastic in their praise of her most interesting story.

Clarence W. Feil (Program Chairman, Ironton Rotary Club)



NICHOLAS SENN HIGH SCHOOL
Chicago, Illinois, Dec. 15, 1947

ANAUTA was a very welcome speaker on our platfrom.  The students were delighted with her, and she proved herself to be capable not only as a lecturer but in her replies to their many questions.  The faculty of this school also showed considerable interest, and we are very happy to have had this speaker.

David M. Davidson, Principal



New York City, May 11, 1940

You have in ANAUTA a speaker who will please and profit the better type of American Lecture audiences.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 67 Morton St.



LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
Harrogate, Tennessee, Feb. 20, 1944

(Office of the President)

ANAUTA made a hit with everybody; townspeople, faculty and students.  She was swell.

Miss Louise Parham, Secretary to the President



NORTHEAST MISSOURI STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE
Kirksville, Missouri, April 25, 1946

ANAUTA made a fine impression at our college.  Thank you for sending her to us; we all enjoyed her very much.

Dr. No-Yong Park



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