"Freddie found school hard in the big city,
but he loved flying more than anything. And
his teachers helped him. He became a wizard
at reading the weather and fantastic at fixing
things. He earned his pilot's license and flew
home in his very own plane."
In honest and uplifting text, Fred Carmichael (with literary support from Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail and rich, textured acrylic art from Audrea Loreen-Wulf) tells his own story in narrative paragraphs arranged through each month of the year. The names of the months are shared in three languages - English, Gwich'in, and Inuvialuktun.
Freddie is known as the first Indigenous commercial pilot in the Arctic, and he speaks clearly of his life there. As a child, while hunting caribou with his family, he took note of a plane flying overhead. His future was sealed with that one sighting. All he dreamed of being from then on was a pilot. A shy child, he imagined himself a hero like the ones he saw in Hollywood movies.
Fred was only 10 when he left school to work the trapline with his family. When a supply plane stopped at their camp, Fred touched a plane for the very first time. He knew that his path to becoming a pilot would require money; hard work was the answer. His dream of flying fulfilled; Fred set to work doing all he could do to help those who needed it.
His adventures and accomplishments inspired many, and saved others.
"The shy Northern boy became a pilot, a father,
a businessman and a leader. He worked with all
people of the Western Arctic - Gwich'in, Inuvialuit,
Metis and others - and appreciated all those who
helped him along the way."
The main text is followed by further information about the languages, meanings and pronunciations, as well as a timeline of Freddie's life and learning. At 88, he lives with his wife and dog in Inuvik today. Archival photos are featured on the final page.
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