Innocents in the Dry Valleys
An Account of the Victoria University of Wellington Antarctic Expedition, 1958-59
In 1880, Athapascan Indian Paul Kandik and French explorer Francois Mercier traveled across northeastern Alaska and western Canada to create the earliest known map of the region. However, their contribution to cartographic history has fallen into obscurity. Linda Johnson now delves into the fascinating story behind the Kandik Map, examining the reasons why and how these two men from such different backgrounds joined forces to map the Kandik River region. Drawing on historical letters, geographical analysis, and the original map itself, held in the University of California’s Bancroft Library, Johnson produces a groundbreaking study on the history of the Kandik Map and reveals its significant implications for Native Americans scholarships.
