Tilikum: Luxton’s Pacific Crossing

Alongside Captain John Voss, author Luxton embarked on a bold journey from Victoria, British Columbia, in 1901 to circumnavigate the globe. Tilikum is a narrative account of their dangerous trip across the Pacific Ocean in a Nootkan canoe named Tilikum. The book tracks their six-month adventure and reports their challenges, including turbulent weather, near-death experiences, and interpersonal conflicts. Luxton’s private diary gives an intimate description of their quest for fame and how it impacted their physical and mental well-being while also making their grand adventure feel more rooted in human emotions. The account is aided by historical background, and the book would be very engaging for readers interested in maritime history and the resilience of explorers. The book can be read in its entirety, or excerpts can be used to explore subjects such as exploration, perseverance, and the human spirit. Students can be assigned this text to learn more about the early twentieth-century explorers’ history of the Nootkan canoe and its cultural significance, or Luxton’s use of primary resources. Chapters could even be used to discuss the environmental conditions under which the first explorers ventured and human impacts on marine environments.