Dawn Kostelnik: 77 books

Where to start?The rats have run rampant on board the Audrey Eleanor for two months we estimate.We call our neighbours who own The Knotty Gal, we want them to be aware that there are rats on the docks.As we walk the dock rat signs are everywhere.Hopefully few have managed to gain access to the interiors...

**THIS STOREY IS RATED PG NR (PERSONAL GUIDANCE, NORTHERN REALITY) THIS IS ABOUT KILLING FOR FOOD** Winter is a long drawn out affair in the Arctic. The men stick gamble and play cards, they laugh at each other and drink thick, black, sweet tea well into the deep dark of the night. Everyone...

We are going to see Nan and Grandpa for Christmas! We are flying outside, I can hardly believe it! I have not seen my grandparents for three years. These are my paternal grandparents they live in Lethbridge Alberta, Canada; we live in Fort Good Hope N.W.T., also in Canada. It is 1,500 miles to travel...

From the village of Fort Norman on the McKenzie River we are taking the junction at the Bear River on our quest to reach Fort Franklin on Great Bear Lake. It is about 100 miles (it’s the old days) by canoe to Franklin. This little hamlet is part of my father’s jurisdiction as Indian Agent. He...

Running, laughing with his face buried in the fur trim of his parkie, a small boy succeeds in out distancing his friend who is also running as fast as his tiny legs will carry him. His friend is trying to catch him and take back the boys favourite stick. The boys, one white, one Inuk are small...

Just south of Fort Good Hope NWT, the mighty McKenzie River squeezes itself down into a comparative trickle between towering limestone cliffs. The Ramparts becomes a bottleneck during the spring break up when 6-foot vertical chunks of dirty block ice grind into the limestone banks. Narrow canyon walls...

Sunshine glistens off of sugar snow, billions of tiny crystals sparkle like diamonds. Skies are deep, deep into blue. Squinting one eye, it is hard to gaze out over the frozen Ocean and not be blinded. Giving up in disgust, I pull my wooden ilgaak ‘sun goggles’ back over my eyes. While they eliminate...

(BURIED ALIVE) Lashing winds drive walls of snow across a vanishing trail. A single skidoo struggles to maintain its course on a track that is rapidly disappearing under the driven snow. The heavy skimmer bucks sideways in the drifts, pulling the skidoo with its human cargo off the track and...

Hi Ho, Hi Ho it’s off to school we go! Grace’s Uncle Allen shows up at our house with kids in tow. He has devised a system that enables all of the school kids who live by the Arctic Ocean to get to their classes safely and on time! Our hours of operation have changed. In an experiment,...

I am a little girl. My feet stick out in front of me on the worn green leather seat. Across from me on a duplicate seat that turns in to face mine, are my three younger brothers. I snuggle deeper into my fake fur coat. It is the most beautiful coat I have ever owned. It is blinding white in colour...

Something is wrong. It feels like I have just crawled into bed and closed my eyes after a long night of babysitting, a loud scream is piercing my ears and my brain is commanding that I pry open my heavy, heavy eye lids. I am having the most amazing dream of flashing sunlight dancing off of calm blue...

Do you remember when you were a little kid and an adult tells you that you have to do something that makes absolutely no sense to you? I mean even at an extremely young age you know better. But this is an adult and this is that era when grown ups were ALWAYS right. I remember thinking that possibly,...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the houses, not a creature was stirring not even the mouses. (Nee lemmings) All of the people of Coppermine were dressed in their finest with care, Itigi’s (parkas) and Kamiks (home made skin and leather shoes) and clean underwear. Round-faced babies...

Around and around they go, around and around.When will they stop we want to know?A river barge decked out with a Ferris wheel is docked along the banks of the mighty McKenzie River beside the village of Fort Good Hope in the North West Territory of Canada.It is 1967 Canada’s Centennial year; our...