Maniilaq

Long before missionaries reached the Arctic, a young Inupiat man named Maniilaq listened to the voice he called grandfather and prophesied of a great light, of boats that move without paddling, and of a coming faith that would replace the fear of the shamans. Woven from the taped memories of Northwest Arctic Elders, Sarah Haile's novel brings to life the harsh beauty of Eskimo culture and the story of a prophet whose words came to pass.

• A real Inupiat prophet foretold Christianity, motorboats, and modern change generations before missionaries arrived—and the Elders say it came to pass.
• Built from taped interviews with Northwest Arctic Elders, this is oral history turned into unforgettable story.
• A young man guided by the voice he calls 'grandfather' dares to defy the fearsome shamans who rule his people.
• An intimate portrait of traditional Eskimo life—from jade tools to moss diapers to the bear hunt—woven through a prophet's life.

Perfect for a reader drawn to faith-based historical fiction and Alaska Native culture who is intrigued by the true story of an indigenous prophet whose predictions foreshadowed Christianity and modern change.