Guy Mary-Rousselière facts for kids

Father Guy Mary-Rousselière (born in 1913 in Le Mans, France; died in 1994 in Pond Inlet, Canada) was a French anthropologist, a missionary priest, and someone who collected string figures. An anthropologist is a scientist who studies human societies and cultures. A missionary priest is a religious leader who travels to spread their faith. String figures are designs made by looping and weaving a piece of string between the fingers.

He trained to become a priest at the Séminaire Saint-Sulpice in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. While studying there, he also passed an exam to become a Sergeant in the French Army Reserve. He became a priest in 1937. For 56 years, he worked as a minister in the Canadian Arctic. He first worked with the Dené people in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Later, he worked with the Inuit people in places like Repulse Bay (now called Naujaat), Pelly, Hudson Bay, and Baffin Island. He lived in Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik) for 36 years before he passed away.

Exploring the Arctic: His Work and Contributions

Father Mary-Rousselière did many important things during his time in the Arctic. He helped record Inuit songs, which are a key part of their culture. He also made films and had his photographs published sometimes in National Geographic magazine.

Discovering History: Archaeology and Artifacts

He was involved in archaeology, which is the study of human history through digging up old things. He found many old objects, called artifacts, during his excavations. These artifacts were given to the National Museum in Ottawa so they could be preserved and studied. This helped us learn more about the history of the Arctic and its people.

Sharing Knowledge: Writing and Editing

For many years, starting in 1953, Father Mary-Rousselière was the editor of a magazine called Eskimo. This magazine helped share information about the Arctic and its people. He was also a member of the Northwest Territories Historic Sites and Monuments Board. This group helps decide which places are important historical sites in Canada.

Recognizing His Achievements: The Northern Science Award

In 1988, Father Mary-Rousselière received a special honor called the Northern Science Award. This award is given to people who have made important contributions to understanding the Canadian North. The award was presented to him by the Honourable Bill McKnight, who was the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development at the time. This award showed how much his work was valued.

Books and Films by Father Mary-Rousselière

Father Mary-Rousselière also wrote books and was involved in films. These works helped share his knowledge and experiences with a wider audience.

Published Works

• (1969). "Les Jeux de Ficelle des Arviligjuarmiut" [String Figures of Arviligjuarmiut], Musees Nationaux du Canada Bulletin 233. This book was about the string figures he collected from the Arviligjuarmiut Inuit.
• (1980). Qitdlarssuaq, l’histoire d’une migration polaire. Université de Montreal. This book tells the story of a polar migration.
  • (1991). Qitdlarssuaq, the story of a polar migration. Wuerz Publishing. This is the English version of his book.
  • (2008) Qitdlarssuaq, l’histoire d’une migration polaire. Réédition, éditions Paulsen, Paris. This is a re-release of his book.

Filmography

• (). Light in the Darkness. This film was one of his projects.