A young Eskimo boy, Etu, is followed from infancy through childhood as the narrative sketches everyday life in a northern village: family relations, winter houses and clothing, infant care and local customs. Separate chapters present play and games, dog teams and sledges, kayak use and harpoon technique, the seal hunt, communal feasts and a winter festival, and summer travel. The account emphasizes practical skills, seasonal rhythms, food and shelter strategies, and the community's resourcefulness in meeting harsh climatic conditions and periodic shortages.