"[M]arvelous and compelling..." - John Milloy, author of The Plains Cree and A National Crime As the first inland surveyor for the Hudson's Bay Company, Philip Turnor stands tall among the explorers and mapmakers of Canada. Accompanied by Cree guides and his Cree wife, Turnor travelled 15,000 miles by canoe and foot between 1778 and 1792 to produce ten maps, culminating in his magnum opus, a map that was the foundation of all northern geographic knowledge at that time. Barbara Mitchell's biography brings to life the man who taught David Thompson and Peter Fidler how to survey. In her search for Turnor's story, Mitchell discovers her own Cree-Orkney ancestry and that of thousands of others who are descendents of Turnor and his Cree wife. "Mitchell's work adds substantially to a deeper knowledge of Turnor, his life, his work, and to the extent possible, his character. It provides the first close study of his background, writings, career trajectory, and contributions to the mapping of North America." - Jennifer Brown, author of Strangers in Blood: Fur Trade Company Families in Indian Country
Reviews
"Where books on Canada, indigenous life, exploration, or genealogy are favorites, this historical account is a must." Henrietta Verma, Library Journal
"Mitchell shows the human side of map-making through reconstructions of Turnor's daily life ... The result is a wonderfully detailed and convincing portrait of early Canadian life in the era of Indigenous-European trade." Lyle Dick, Canada's History



Book Information
ISBN 9780889775039
Author Barbara Mitchell
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint University of Regina Press
Publisher University of Regina Press
Weight(grams) 742g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 95mm * 158mm