by David Wilcox

Created on: March 21, 2009

An Alaskan tale unfolds in The Trap by John Smelcer. The book is masterfully written, and the underlying meaning is one to contemplate. It takes place during the winter in the Arctic regions of Alaska near a native Athabaskan village. There the people survive living a part subsistence, part economic life. They are able to enjoy the conveniences of electricity and motors, have readily available sources of education, and also subsist through trapping, fishing and hunting. They are on the whole, quite content with this life.

The story begins by stepping into Albert Least-Weasel's life. He is an elderly Indian, very wise, yet his years had begun to catch up with him. One day, while he was trapping in the frozen outdoors, he accidentally stepped in one of his steel traps. Instantly the trap clamped shut on his leg. Quite astounded that he would let himself get in such a predicament, he chuckled. However as he attempted to open the trap it became apparent to him that this was no laughing matter. In his old age, he was unable to free himself. Ironically his snow machine, loaded with food, clothes, equipment and camping gear was too far away for him to get to, the chain which held the trap to the tree wasn't long enough. As night closed in and the temperature began to drop, the discouraged man, knowing he would be there for a while, made a bed and small fire from the branches of the tree.

Meanwhile his 17 year old grandson Johnny Least-Weasel was paying his daily visit to his grandparent's cabin. He helpfully carried more wood in for the fire, watched a TV show with his grandmother and ate a small meal with her. Through his experiences and visits with them, Johnny had grown to love, care for and respect his grandparents. He left the cabin that day with the confidence that the following day, his grandfather would return from his trap line.

That night before going to sleep, he stopped at his Uncles house. As expected and quite common, he was met by a crowd of men, the smell of whiskey and the drunkenness which always ensues such a mix. He had once joined these parties, but he had ended the habit before it took hold of him. Many of the men there, had not, and now they couldn't stop. They lived, worked and died for and because of beer.

The next day, Johnny went to work. He worked at a local store, the only store in the town, and there in his spare time he studied. He knew of the importance of getting an education and how helpful knowledge was. However most in his village did

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