January 23, 1998

Hot off the University of Alberta Press

TITLE: THEIR EXAMPLE SHOWED ME THE WAY: A CREE WOMAN'S LIFE SHAPED BY TWO CULTUES

Author: Emma Minde; Freda Ahenakew and HC Wolfart, ed. and trans.
Price: $24.95 soft cover

Emma Minde's autobiography describes how she left her Saddle Lake home to join a household of strangers at Hobbema-her future husband and four powerful adults who shaped her life: her husband's parents, Mary-Jane and Dan Minde, and Dan Minde's younger brother Sam and his wife Mary. The autobiography focuses on her relationship with Mary-Jane and Mary, and the reminiscences offer rare insight into a life guided by two powerful forces: the traditional world of the Plains Cree and Catholic missions. Rarely has the interplay of these two worldviews-often in conflict, yet often, it seems, very much in harmony-been sketched so eloquently.

The education Emma received was based on obedience, hard work and firmly held beliefs, seen as essential preparation for a life of uncertainty and rapid change, hardship and constant struggle. Her stories are presented as she told them in Cree to Freda Ahenakew, with a translation into English on facing pages.

TITLE: PLANT OF KANANASKIS COUNTRY IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS OF ALBERTA

Author: Beryle Hallworth and CC Chinnappa
Price: $19.95 soft cover
Publisher: The University of Alberta Press/ The University of Calgary Press

This book is a timely contribution to the understanding and enjoyment of Kananaskis Country flora, providing visitors-whether botanist, conservationist, naturalist or tourist-with detailed information on more than 400 species. The book includes wildflowers, trees, shrubs, ferns, some grasses and conspicuous sedges and rushes. According to James Soper, a curator emeritus and research associate with the Canadian Museum of Nature, the book's authors have produced a field guide that combines a number of original features and bridges the gap between a simple picture guide to wildflowers and a purely scientific account of the flora.

The plant families are described and most are illustrated with a color photograph. Diagnostic keys may be used for identifying an unfamiliar plant to its family, genus and species. An illustrated glossary contains diagrams of the structure and arrangement of leaves, inflorescences, flowers, fruits and seeds.

TITLE: RISK OF DEATH IN CANADA: WHAT WEKNOW AND HOW WE KNOW IT

Author: Simon Thomas and Steve Hrudey
Price: $19.95

Hrudey and Thomas note a major shift in what kills us. "Our ancestors faced enormous obstacles to survive the rigors of our climate and wilderness and the scourges of infectious disease. Recently, we have experienced a well-documented transition from acute diseases as a major cause of death to the dominance of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease," the authors write.

Targeting their book at students in the health sciences and professions and practicing health professionals, Hrudey and Thomas have provided a summary of accessible health risk information-in effect, detailing who dies from what in this country.

"We seek to inform anyone who wishes to understand our state of knowledge about risks of death in Canada," they say. "In so doing, we believe we can encourage informed discussions about important issues in our society. However, this book should not be used as a weapon to win battles in risk debates. The most contentious issues in risk debates are usually social issues of equity and fairness, issues which cannot be resolved by recourse to the data and inferential logic that we present."

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