David Pelly is one guy who has learned to talk to our elders and listen to stories ... Nobody could have done a better job writing down my mother's memories of her childhood than David Pelly.
Manitok Bruce, former cabinet minister, Government of Nunavut
You will learn something from David's work — he writes about the real stuff.
Hon. Peter Irniq, First Commissioner of Nunavut
Pelly captures the spirit and history of the land and its aboriginal mysticism.
Canadian Geographic
He writes with respect and clarity, which allows the reader to learn in a truly honest and insightful way.
Paul Okalik, First Premier of Nunavut
Pelly’s latest book is an incredible read. The Ancestors Are Happy focuses on the people of the North [and] brings the reader on a journey across the landscape, hosted and guided by the Inuit elders. It’s a journey worth taking. Everyone should read this book.
Kevin Callan, author of A Paddler’s Guide series
Remarkable stories carried within the many humble, authentic hearts of these remarkable elders that [Pelly] captured so authentically … a tremendous contribution.
John England, C.M., Ph.D.
A damned fine writer with important things to say about the North and its people.… reading Pelly’s stuff is like travelling on a well-built sled skimming across the deep blue sea-ice on a bright spring day.
Norman Hallendy, author of Inuksuit: Silent Messages of the Arctic
It’s a wonderful book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and learned a lot.
Kenn Harper, author of Minik: The New York Edition
David Pelly is one who came back — again and again — and so earned the trust and the friendship of the people he sojourned among.
Russell Potter, author of Finding Franklin
An important and delightful read, and a vital historical work to preserve a vanishing culture. Both the climate and culture of the Arctic are changing at a dizzyingly fast rate. It is too easy to forget the past, the world as it once was. Which is why The Ancestors Are Happy is a must-read. Because to survive in this increasingly urban world, we can’t forget the human power of perseverance and joy within our relationship with Nature, in all its embracing wonder and swirling spring blizzards.
Jon Turk, author of The Raven’s Gift
I felt compelled to reach out in appreciation of the care and dedication behind this remarkable work…. As someone who writes about places shaped by conflict, endurance, and cultural transformation, I deeply respect authors who take the time to listen, especially when working with elders whose memories carry entire lifeways within them. Preserving such testimony feels urgent in an era when both landscapes and oral traditions are under immense pressure.
Adam Makos, bestselling author of The Higher Calling