by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan20/97) - After more than 100 years of dedicated service, the first detailed book documenting the Grey Nuns of the Western Arctic is out.

Sister Agnes Sutherland's new book, "Northerners say: Thanks, Sisters," is the first publication that offers a close look at the hundreds of Grey Nuns who sacrificed plenty to come North more than 100 years ago.

Full of photographs, the book includes sisters reminiscing about caring for the sick in hospitals and ealth-care centres, teaching in classrooms, serving in parishes, offering child care and preparing the dead for burial, despite the many hardships.

Sister Sutherland, who spent 18 years travelling the Western Arctic, where she served as a teacher, says she came up with the idea to research and write the book about 10 years ago.

"I never thought of being an author, it was never a priority, but the need came. I found there's a lot of good stories out there on bush pilots, trappers and explorers, but none about the sisters. It was time they saw the stories of the nuns who were truly pioneers, as teachers, nurses and caregivers."

Sutherland, who now lives in Fort Smith, says another reason for penning the book is to try to break the cycle of accusations and controversial media coverage over residential schools.

"Many former students and elders who would like to speak out, but are unable to, have asked me several times to help them get their message to the public so they will also hear the positive story of the "mission schools.'" Calling her book a "snapshot view of the kind of people who helped make the North what it is today," her book offers 37 tales, chosen from 300 stories of women with unique charisma who have served in the Mackenzie-Fort Smith diocese.

"These stories give a litany of details, challenges, messages and blessings which are not found anywhere else," Sutherland writes in the foreword.

Sutherland will return to her home town of Fort Chipewyan on Feb. 1 for a reading at the Community Hall.

She's also accepted an invitation to travel to Hay River, where she'll read from her book at the public library on Feb. 23.

With 500 copies now in publication, "Northerners say: Thanks, Sisters" is available at local book stores throughout the North.