Duncan Pryde

Duncan Pryde (June 8, 1937 - November 15, 1997) was a hunter, trapper, lexicographer and politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He served as a member of the Northwest Territories Council from 1966 to 1975.

Early life

Duncan Pryde was born on June 8, 1937 in Scotland. He was raised in an orphanage along with his four brothers and one sister. He joined the Merchant Navy at the age of 15 and eventually covered him self with tattoos. Pryde didn't last long in the Merchant Navy resigning due to an eye industry and went to work for Singer Corporation in a plant manufacturing sewing machines.

He left Singer at the age of 18 in 1955 after seeing an advertisement for the Hudson's Bay Company looking for traders to work in the Canadian North. After arriving in Canada, Pryde spent three years working in Ontario and Manitoba where he learned to speak Cree before transferring to the Northwest Territories.

After moving to the arctic, determined to learn Inuktituk or Eskimo as it was than known, Pryde began writing his own dictionary after being given a poorly written dictionary by a Catholic Mission. Pryde began adopting the way of life of the Inuit and learned the skills to live off the land. He became fluent in communication after about years. He also fathered a number of children with Inuit women.

Political career

Pryde's political career began in 1966. The Northwest Territories opened up territorial elections for the first time in the Eastern Arctic after amendments to the Northwest Territories Act Pryde was elected by Acclamation for a by-election held on September 19, 1966 in the new electoral district of Central Arctic.

Pryde was unable to make ends meet off of the meager salary paid to members of the Council, a substantial pay decrease from the Hudson's Bay Company. While serving on Council he continued to live a nomadic Inuit lifestyle. Pryde ran for re-election a year later in the 1967 Northwest Territories general election. He ran in the electoral district of Western Arctic and won his second term in office.

Publishings

Time magazine made Duncan Pryde internationally recognized by featuring him on the cover of the May 2, 1969 edition of the magazine. Later British journalist Cliff Michelmore filmed a feature about Pryde for British television in 1970. Pryde authored a books on his experience in the Northwest Territories which was first published in 1971. The book was titledNunaga : ten years of eskimo life, the name of the book had a few variations and a translation was also published in a number of other languages including Dutch, French, Hungarian, Swedish and Danish.^[1] A second edition was published in 1985 incorporating material that was cut from the first printing.

Pryde later moved to Alaska to work on his dictionary at the University of the Arctic. He had problems with Immigration and was forced to leave the United States until his residency issues were settled.

Late life

After leaving Alaska, Pryde moved back to the United Kingdom and moved in with his brother in London. He had trouble adjusting away from northern life but never returned to the Arctic. Pryde met his second wife and moved to the Isle of Wight setting up a newspaper shop called Pryde of Cowes and continuing work on his dictionary. He lived a quiet life and ended up losing touch with his United Kingdom family. Pryde passed away on November 15, 1997.

References

1. ^ "Author Pryde, Duncan". WorldCat. http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3APryde%2C+Duncan.&fq=&dblist=638&start=11&qt=page_number_link. Retrieved October 1, 2011. 

External links