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The Right to Be Cold
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
23 posts | 11 read | 14 to read
" The Right to Be Cold " is a human story of resilience, commitment, and survival told from the unique vantage point of an Inuk woman who, in spite of many obstacles, rose from humble beginnings in the Arctic community of Kuujjuaq, Quebec--where she was raised by a single parent and grandmother and travelled by dog team in a traditional, ice-based Inuit hunting culture--to become one of the most influential and decorated environmental, cultural, and human rights advocates in the world. " The Right to Be Cold " explores the parallels between safeguarding the Arctic and the survival of Inuit culture--and ultimately the world--in the face of past, present, and future environmental degradation. Sheila Watt-Cloutier passionately argues that climate change is a human rights issue and one to which all of us on the planet are inextricably linked. "The Right to Be Cold "is the culmina-tion of Watt-Cloutier's regional, national, and international work over the last twenty-five years, weaving historical traumas and current issues such as climate change, leadership, and sustainability in the Arctic into her personal story to give a coherent and holistic voice to an important subject.
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review
janeycanuck
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Mehso-so

Watt-Cloutier is an amazing woman but honestly, this a slog to get through. The early chapters covering childhood and the bit after her time in politics were more narrative in nature but the political years are very factual streams of meetings and organizations with very little colour or emotion. So it was dry, often hard to follow (because of acronyms) and sadly, boring.

Roll 40 for #Roll100 and Book 3/4 for #JoysOfJune

PuddleJumper Brilliant! 9mo
Andrew65 That‘s excellent. 👏👏👏 A shame the book wasn‘t better. 9mo
46 likes2 comments
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LibraryCin
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Mehso-so

This was good. I expected more of the environmental aspect in the book. I ended up enjoying the biographical part of the book best. Much of the 2nd half of the book included her travels to various conferences and counsels to tell the story of the Inuit to put a “human face” on the environmental crisis in the Arctic. Surprising to me, I just didn‘t find that part as interesting. Overall, though, I liked it.

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Lindy
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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“The testimony of Inuit who watched the dog slaughter unfold is harrowing. Some men had come in from outpost camps and watched as their only means of transport, their only way to get back to their families, was destroyed before their eyes. Others said that they were preparing to go hunting, and their dogs were shot and killed as they stood harnessed to the sleds.”
(Siila Watt-Cloutier gave a public lecture in Edmonton today.)

Suet624 Horrendous. I can‘t even imagine. 6y
Lindy @Suet624 Yes. 😔and 😡 6y
32 likes2 comments
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Book_devourer
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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I want to like this! She talks about important issues that I care deeply about. So far, there have been a few gems (consisting of a paragraph here and there) and lots of yawning

BookishTrish I'm ashamed to say I bailed 6y
Book_devourer @BookishTrish no shame in it. I might too...this was on CBC Canada reads for 2017 and Chantal Kreviazik was defending it. She did not do a great job 😜 6y
mommamatch A book can have an important message, and yet still fail at being interesting. My motto - there‘s too many books to waste time on a bad one!! 6y
8 likes1 stack add3 comments
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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Mehso-so

I wanted to like this more than I did. Watt-Cloutier's actual life story is interesting, particularly in terms of cultural change, but the discussions of all the climate change meetings really dragged. I also found her narrative style to be too full of digressions (or rather not elegantly managed digressions).

18 likes1 stack add
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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Scary!

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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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A definition of the Inuktitut word "ilira".

Leniverse We need this word in all languages! 7y
rabbitprincess @Leniverse I love when a language comes up with a word that perfectly encapsulates a specific concept like that. If only we didn't need to use it in any language 😐 7y
21 likes2 comments
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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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#bookandbreakfast, Pret a Manger edition. Porridge and green tea+peach 😊

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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Email from hometown library: The ebook you placed a hold on is now available!
Me: Bwuh? What did I request?
*opens email*
Me: Oh, that one!

(This scene plays out pretty much every time I request an item from my hometown library)

Laura317 😂😂 I completely understand. 7y
rabbitprincess @Laura317 And with this one in particular, I'd placed the hold ages ago (maybe back in May?) so that was even more opportunity to forget that I'd requested it 😂 7y
Laura317 @rabbitprincess I'm 82 in line on one book. I'll probably forget I've got it on hold and be scratching my head when it pops up in my email. 7y
rabbitprincess @Laura317 For sure! It is a bit like Christmas when they pop up. "Whee! Free books!" 7y
20 likes4 comments
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DaydreamingBookworm
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Pickpick

I can't remember reading a more informative book. Ignore the low Litsy rating because The Right to be Cold should be read by every Canadian. There is a lot of politics in the book but don't let that deter you! I learned so much about Inuit culture and as a teacher, Sheila's journey from educator to politician fascinated me. Check out my quotes from this book to learn more.

StephanieMarie I've had this on hold from the library since March! So frustrating, can't wait to finally read it (if my hold ever comes in..) 7y
rabbitprincess She gave a lecture at the University of Ottawa earlier this year and I'm looking forward to reading her book! 7y
11 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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kendrastephaniekaryn
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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#90sinjuly #iceicebaby
Books from two very cold parts of the world! My wonderful home country of Canada, and Scandinavia. Scandinavian thrillers are some of my favourites!

@Cinfhen @Robothugs

monkeygirlsmama Scandinavian Thrillers? That's a legit thing? Huh, who knew! LoL I must investigate further. 🙃 7y
kendrastephaniekaryn @monkeygirlsmama They sure are! They're spooky, dark and wintery. I recommend the Lars Kepler series! ❄ 7y
monkeygirlsmama @kendrastephaniekaryn Excellent, thanks! I'll have to see what I can find. 😎 7y
Cinfhen Such a great collage 🙌🏻just took a screenshot ❤️ 7y
31 likes4 comments
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DaydreamingBookworm
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Our hunters--in fact, any of us who survived on the land--were scientists themselves. Our hunters and elders were carefully observing nature. They were finely attuned to small changes. They knew what to look for. They were experts because they had to be: their daily survival on the land and ice depended on it. As Maurice Strong had observed, if you wanted to learn about the environment, there were no better teachers than the Inuit.

StephanieMarie Are you enjoying this one? I've had it on hold since February! 😂 7y
DaydreamingBookworm I also had it on hold since winter. I had to push through the halfway point because she talks a lot about international politics. It can get quite dry. But I'm learning so much about the Arctic! 7y
13 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DaydreamingBookworm
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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The shock of it all loosens up everything that needs attention and puts you on a fast track to heal intergenerational wounds. For the next few years, I looked inward, honouring how my lost loved ones had been a gift to me while they were living, and a source of perspective as I grieved their passing. My losses helped me recognize my life's calling and built my character, leading me courage leading up to my future work.

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melissajayne
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Bailedbailed

Was unable to get into it.

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rabbitprincess
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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I am in a very long hold line for The Right to Be Cold (both print and ebook), so I will probably not be able to read it before the lecture by Sheila Watt-Cloutier I am attending in May. Her lecture is part of the Alex Trebek Distinguished Lecture Series at the University of Ottawa. I imagine the lecture will be just as thought-provoking as the book.
#aprilbookshowers day 16

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SpiderCrafts
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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This got me interested in Googling more on #battleofthebooks as a reading challenge between libraries and schools. The hosting CBC Canada has a great list of new Canadian reads. 🇨🇦 http://www.cbc.ca/books/mobile/touch/springbooks2017/index.html

CherylDeFranceschi Awesome! Thank you! 7y
CouronneDhiver 🙌🏽🇨🇦 Woohoo! Thanks for sharing this 7y
quirkyreader More great books to add to the list🇨🇦. And yesterday when I was at work one of the books that came in was the history of British Columbia. 7y
SpiderCrafts @CherylDeFranceschi @CouronneDhiver @quirkyreader 😊 I'm glad yous are enjoying the CBC list. Happy reading! 🍁🍻 7y
34 likes4 comments
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dixi_e
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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About to start my 4/5 #CanadaReads. Curious to read this memoir and discover a new perspective on the coldest reaches of my homeland. 🇨🇦

7 likes1 stack add
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NerdyRev
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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The Canada reads finalists are announced! http://www.cbc.ca/books/2017/01/meet-the-canada-reads-2017-contenders.html I am not Canadian, but what a concept! Get the country to read Canadian authors and then debate the merits of the book. Fantastic!

LeahBergen I'm Canadian and Canada Reads is so great. You can listen to the interviews on our national radio station or watch the debates on a really fun daily television show. 7y
NerdyRev @LeahBergen The great thing is portions are streamed, so I get to watch too! I am excited. 7y
melissajayne @LeahBergen you can also download the audio through their podcast. 7y
33 likes3 comments
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teebe
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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I'm not really #dreamingofawarmerclimate this winter. I've actually been enjoying the snow and ice storms we've been having this year because it's much closer to what I experienced as a kid. I remember winters being significantly colder and harsher here than the mild ones we've been having within the last decade or so. Although I'm definitely not #dreamingofacolderclimate either, it's cold enough! #readjanuary

Theresa Love that picture!! 😍 7y
25 likes1 comment
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Shay
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Picked up a couple books from the #CanadaReads 2017 long list before heading back to the US tomorrow.

5 likes1 stack add
review
Erin01
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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Pickpick

this is a hard book for me to rate because while I mostly enjoyed reading it & found the material discussed - her personal experiences, Innuit culture/community at large, and the linking of climate change as a human rights issue - really necessary & important, I didn't love it like I expected to & felt the narrative got bogged down in places with excessive details or side stories. still am important read so I'm rounding up my rating to 🌟🌟🌟🌟

29 likes3 stack adds
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Erin01
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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planning on starting this one today 📖

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MelodySchreiber
The Right to Be Cold | Sheila Watt-Cloutier
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An Arctic reading list!

Julsmarshall Brrrrr! 💨❄️❄️❄️🌬 8y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment