Books

Raven’s Witness

“This book makes me want to ponder over our connections with nature and the meaning of spirituality for each one of us. Such is the power of its quality of writing and the subject of the book, Richard K. Nelson. There can never be enough of books like this.”

— Nandini Purandare

✷ Banff Mountain Book Award Winner - Grand Prize

✷ Banff Mountain Book Award Winner - Mountain Literature

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Richard Nelson on young ice with open water in the background. Rifle over his shoulder, he holds an unaaq used to test ice thickness. The umiaqaluraq is used to retrieve seals. (Wainwright, Alaska 1964)

Richard Nelson on young ice with open water in the background. Rifle over his shoulder, he holds an unaaq used to test ice thickness. The umiaqaluraq is used to retrieve seals. (Wainwright, Alaska 1964)

Anaqqaq Ekak tossing a manaq (wooden float with metal hooks) to retrieve a seal shot in open water. He's standing on his unaaq to distribute his weight on the thin ice.

Anaqqaq Ekak tossing a manaq (wooden float with metal hooks) to retrieve a seal shot in open water. He's standing on his unaaq to distribute his weight on the thin ice.

A hunter pulling his companion over thin ice. The umiaqalrulaq (skin boat) was used to retrieve a seal shot in open water.

A hunter pulling his companion over thin ice. The umiaqalrulaq (skin boat) was used to retrieve a seal shot in open water.

A group of hunters butcher walrus hravested on an ice floe in spring.

A group of hunters butcher walrus hravested on an ice floe in spring.

Tagruk Bodfish carves a kayak paddle in Richard's Wainwright home (1964).

Tagruk Bodfish carves a kayak paddle in Richard's Wainwright home (1964).

Kusiq Bodfish working on an umiaqaluraq in Wainwright, fall 1964.

Kusiq Bodfish working on an umiaqaluraq in Wainwright, fall 1964.

Richard's Wainwright dog team. His recently completed kayak is lashed to the sled.

Richard's Wainwright dog team. His recently completed kayak is lashed to the sled.

Richard left Wainwright in the fall of 1966. Ten years and four dog teams later, he's mushing with friends through Dalki Pass to spend the winter in Huslia, a village on the banks of the Koyukuk River.

Richard left Wainwright in the fall of 1966. Ten years and four dog teams later, he's mushing with friends through Dalki Pass to spend the winter in Huslia, a village on the banks of the Koyukuk River.

Richard's one room cabin in Huslia, Alaska.

Richard's one room cabin in Huslia, Alaska.

Richard taking a break from writing field notes in Huslia, Alaska.

Richard taking a break from writing field notes in Huslia, Alaska.

Richard and Kathy Mautner in the cabin they shared in Huslia, Alaska.

Richard and Kathy Mautner in the cabin they shared in Huslia, Alaska.

Catherine and Steven Attla visiting Richard and Kathy in Tenakee, Alaska.

Catherine and Steven Attla visiting Richard and Kathy in Tenakee, Alaska.

Richard and Hank recording sounds in Glacier Bay National Park, 2014.

Richard and Hank recording sounds in Glacier Bay National Park, 2014.

“There are ways of becoming worthy of the lessons taught you, most of all by passing them along.”

— Richard Nelson, Rain Journal

Faith of Cranes

Faith of Cranes weaves together three parallel narratives: 
the plight and beauty of sandhill cranes, one man's effort to recover hope amid destructive climate change, and the birth 
of a daughter.

"Lentfer's writing is honest, intensely lived, and overflowing with heart: broken, mended, and whole."

— David James Duncan

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Arctic Refuge

Originally presented to Congress on March 28, 2001, this book brings together the latest word from key conservation leaders as well as firsthand accounts by Alaska residents on how they and neighboring wildlife would be affected should oil drilling proceed according to current plans.

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