Duncan Pryde
Encyclopedia
Duncan Pryde 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.
. 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.
.
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.
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. 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.
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.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 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 ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. 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
Singer Corporation
Singer Corporation is a manufacturer of sewing machines, first established as I.M. Singer & Co. in 1851 by Isaac Merritt Singer with New York lawyer Edward Clark. Best known for its sewing machines, it was renamed Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865, then The Singer Company in 1963. It is...
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
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
looking for traders to work in the Canadian North. After arriving in Canada, Pryde spent three years working in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
where he learned to speak Cree before transferring to the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
.
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 ArcticCentral Arctic
The Central Arctic was an electoral district of the Northwest Territories, Canada created in 1966 and abolished in 1983. The district consisted of Pelly Bay, Spence Bay, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Bathurst Inlet, Bay Chimo, Coppermine and Holman. For the 1983 election Holman was moved to the...
.
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
Northwest Territories general election, 1967
The Northwest Territories general election of 1967 took place on July 4, 1967. This was the 11th general election in the history of the Northwest Territories....
. He ran in the electoral district of Western Arctic and won his second term in office.
Publishings
TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
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
Cliff Michelmore
Arthur Clifford "Cliff" Michelmore CBE is a British television presenter and producer. He is best known for the BBC television programme Tonight, which he presented from 1957 to 1965....
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. A second edition was published in 1985 incorporating material that was cut from the first printing.
Pryde later moved to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
to work on his dictionary at the University of the Arctic
University of the Arctic
The University of the Arctic is an international cooperative network based in the circumpolar region, consisting of universities, colleges and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the North...
. He had problems with Immigration
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
and was forced to leave the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until his residency issues were settled.
Late life
After leaving Alaska, Pryde moved back to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and moved in with his brother in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. 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
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
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.