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In the 1970s, droves of young women migrated from big cities to rural settings across North America. Many settled on the north coast of British Columbia, an area of harsh weather, rugged landscapes, and indescribable magic. For the first time, 34 of those women have recorded their incredible stories of triumphs and tribulations on the wild north coast of B.C.
The stories are as varied as the personalities of the women themselves. One tells the story of leaving New York City, and, after spending some time in Kathmandu and Afghanistan, somehow finding herself on Haida Gwaii. Another describes in heart-rending detail how the love of her life tragically drowned navigating through treacherous waters in a tugboat. And there is also the story of Jacques, an intense man from Quebec who burned down a house and a boat, got arrested for hijacking an airplane, and shot his rifle at one of the writers,
who survived to tell the incredible tale.
Alongside the stories are 66 photographs from the era, which could be considered important historical documents in their own right. They show not only how the area looked at the time, but also the fashions of the day, and captured some places that no longer exist, such as the thriving community of Salt Lake, and the large vegetable garden at Serpentine Inlet. Gumboot Girls is many things: an historical document, a sociological study, a collection of thrilling personal narratives of their lives. It is a
glimpse back in time to a simpler lifestyle, which many baby boomers
will identify with. Many young people, who may sympathize with the "Occupy"; movement, will also see parallels in the political and social climate of the day, and how it pushed these writers away from the bigger cities into a rural lifestyle. Their tales also capture the timeless themes of young people coming of age in their twenties:
the search for love and friendship; the slow accrual of responsibility;
the loosening of family ties; the uncertainty of independence. While
Gumboot Girls is a description of a magical time and place that will
never come again, it is also a variation on a story that repeats itself
over and over again.
The stories are as varied as the personalities of the women themselves. One tells the story of leaving New York City, and, after spending some time in Kathmandu and Afghanistan, somehow finding herself on Haida Gwaii. Another describes in heart-rending detail how the love of her life tragically drowned navigating through treacherous waters in a tugboat. And there is also the story of Jacques, an intense man from Quebec who burned down a house and a boat, got arrested for hijacking an airplane, and shot his rifle at one of the writers,
who survived to tell the incredible tale.
Alongside the stories are 66 photographs from the era, which could be considered important historical documents in their own right. They show not only how the area looked at the time, but also the fashions of the day, and captured some places that no longer exist, such as the thriving community of Salt Lake, and the large vegetable garden at Serpentine Inlet. Gumboot Girls is many things: an historical document, a sociological study, a collection of thrilling personal narratives of their lives. It is a
glimpse back in time to a simpler lifestyle, which many baby boomers
will identify with. Many young people, who may sympathize with the "Occupy"; movement, will also see parallels in the political and social climate of the day, and how it pushed these writers away from the bigger cities into a rural lifestyle. Their tales also capture the timeless themes of young people coming of age in their twenties:
the search for love and friendship; the slow accrual of responsibility;
the loosening of family ties; the uncertainty of independence. While
Gumboot Girls is a description of a magical time and place that will
never come again, it is also a variation on a story that repeats itself
over and over again.
Submitted on November 6, 2012 in By David.
