KNUD RASMUSSEN – “ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA” Objective ... · 2. Remind them that Knud Rasmussen...
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Page 1 of 3 SILA – An Educational Website About Inuit Culture http://sila.nu/teachers/lessons?l=en © 2005 Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. More information: [email protected] KNUD RASMUSSEN – “ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA” Grade Level This lesson plan is designed to be used with students ages 12-15. Objective Students will read excerpts from “Across Arctic America,” by Knud Rasmussen. In groups, students will be assigned a topic to research in the readings and will choose a method by which to share the information they learn with their fellow students. Estimated Time Needed 2 class periods. Materials Copies of “Across Arctic America,” by Knud Rasmussen, pages 100-108 and pages 114-121. Isuma Inuit Studies Reader , Isuma Publishing, Montreal 2004. (included) Optional: Notes on shamanism (included) Optional: Igloolik Isuma Productions, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen http://www.sila.nu/journal/ Activity: 1. Ask students if they remember the name Knud Rasmussen from an earlier lesson. Have them share anything they remember and write on the board. 2. Remind them that Knud Rasmussen was a Danish Explorer who traveled approximately 46,000 km (29,000 miles) by dog sled from Greenland to Siberia between 1921 and 1924. 3. Tell students that in 1922 Knud Rasmussen stayed in Igloolik visiting the shaman Aua (“a shaman is a mediator between the human world and the spirit world, between the living and the dead, and between animals and human society.” Atanarjuat The Fast Runner , page 39). For more information on shamanism, review accompanying notes with students. 4. Explain that students will be reading excerpts from “Across Arctic America”, Knud Rasmussen’s account of his stay with Aua and his family. 5. Break students into 5 groups. Explain that each group will be assigned a topic, which they will research in the provided reading. The topics are: o Traditional ceremonies o Duties of women o Design of snow huts o Fears of Inuit o Most difficult time of year
Transcript of KNUD RASMUSSEN – “ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA” Objective ... · 2. Remind them that Knud Rasmussen...
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SILA – An Educational Website About Inuit Culture http://sila.nu/teachers/lessons?l=en © 2005 Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. More information: [email protected]
KNUD RASMUSSEN – “ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA”
Grade Level This lesson plan is designed to be used with students ages 12-15. Objective Students will read excerpts from “Across Arctic America,” by Knud Rasmussen. In groups, students will be assigned a topic to research in the readings and will choose a method by which to share the information they learn with their fellow students. Estimated Time Needed 2 class periods. Materials Copies of “Across Arctic America,” by Knud Rasmussen, pages 100-108 and pages 114-121. Isuma Inuit Studies Reader, Isuma Publishing, Montreal 2004. (included) Optional: Notes on shamanism (included) Optional: Igloolik Isuma Productions, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen http://www.sila.nu/journal/ Activity: 1. Ask students if they remember the name Knud Rasmussen from an earlier lesson. Have
them share anything they remember and write on the board. 2. Remind them that Knud Rasmussen was a Danish Explorer who traveled approximately
46,000 km (29,000 miles) by dog sled from Greenland to Siberia between 1921 and 1924. 3. Tell students that in 1922 Knud Rasmussen stayed in Igloolik visiting the shaman Aua
(“a shaman is a mediator between the human world and the spirit world, between the living and the dead, and between animals and human society.” Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, page 39). For more information on shamanism, review accompanying notes with students.
4. Explain that students will be reading excerpts from “Across Arctic America”, Knud
Rasmussen’s account of his stay with Aua and his family. 5. Break students into 5 groups. Explain that each group will be assigned a topic, which they
will research in the provided reading. The topics are:
o Traditional ceremonies o Duties of women o Design of snow huts
o Fears of Inuit o Most difficult time of year
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SILA – An Educational Website About Inuit Culture http://www.sila.nu/en/teachers/ © 2005 Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. More information:[email protected]
6. Have students choose a topic or randomly assign. Groups researching the first three topics
will receive copies of pages 100-108. Groups researching the second two topics will receive copies of pages 114-121.
7. Explain that groups can share the information they learn about their topic any way they
choose (i.e. poster, chart, drawing, written essay, etc.) Brainstorm possible methods and list on the board.
8. Allow students time to read excerpt, either aloud in groups or independently, and begin
working on their topic. Students may need additional time to complete their assignment during the next class period.
Evaluation Once groups have completed their projects, allow time for sharing and questions. Evaluation of each project should be based on inclusion of key facts of each topic. Information for each topic can be found on the following pages: o Traditional customs, pgs. 104-105 (initiation of infant setting out on first journey) o Traditional customs, pgs. 106-107 (walrus hunting) o Duties of women, pgs. 107-109 o Design of snow huts, pgs. 102-103, pg. 107 o Fears, pg. 117 o Difficult time of year, pgs. 120-121 References Angilirq,Paul Apak; Cohn, Norman; Saladin d’Anglure, Bernard, Atanarjuat The Fast Runner. Toronto: Coach House Books and Isuma Publishing, 2002. Robinson, Gillian, Isuma Inuit Studies Reader. Montreal: Isuma Publishing, 2004. Kessler, Deirdre, Isuma Teacher’s Resource Guide, Montreal: Isuma Publishing, 2004. Isuma Publishing – A Division of Igloolik Isuma Productions: https://store.isuma.ca/
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SILA – An Educational Website About Inuit Culture http://www.sila.nu/en/teachers/ © 2005 Igloolik Isuma Productions Inc. More information:[email protected]
TEACHERS’ NOTES: SHAMANISM
Before colonization by Europeans, the Inuit lived a life centered on the earth, the animals and the spirit of their ancestors. Shamanism is an element of traditional Inuit spirituality. Shamans, or angakkuit in Inuktitut, are men and women viewed as doctors, healers and advisors. These healers were born with and skilled in the ability to see spirits. In the past, shamans: o Were central figures in ceremonies; o Foretold weather patterns and movements of game animals; o Cured illnesses; o Retrieved lost or stolen souls; and o Were assisted by good and bad spirit helpers, known as tuunngait, in protecting the health
and welfare of their communities. Angakkuit (Shamans) and Tuurngait (Helping Spirits) A shaman is a mediator between the human world and the spirit world, between the living and the dead, and between animals and human society. A future shaman must be chosen by a spirit – maybe one of his deceased parents, maybe his namesake, maybe an animal whose skin was used to wipe his newborn body, or maybe any spirit that has appeared to him. This helping spirit (tuurngaq) would provide the future shaman with assistance and guarantee him success in his practice. Through it, the shaman could ally himself with other spirits. The spirits of the polar bear and the walrus were especially sought after. Their size and their ability to move in water and on land made them powerful mediators. A shrewd shaman usually had several helping spirits, thus enabling him to move about in the different elements – land, water and air – and also travel backward or forward in time, to visit the dead and the great nature spirits, and to enter the hereafter in the heavens or under the sea. Each species of animal and each element of nature – the heavenly bodies, the winds, the rivers and streams – was governed by a spirit master (inua) who not only had a human form but could also feel emotions and be willing to act. These were the spirit masters who chose to become shaman’s helpers.
101
100
20,0
00 a
rtifa
cts
and
com
pile
d th
ousa
nds
of p
ages
of
info
rmat
ion
abou
t In
uit
cultu
re a
nd h
isto
ry. T
his
epic
jour
ney
is k
now
n as
the
Fift
h T
hule
E
xped
ition
and
was
the
mos
t co
mpr
ehen
sive
eth
nogr
aphi
c in
vest
igat
ion
of t
he I
nuit
from
the
Atla
ntic
Oce
an t
o th
e C
hukc
hi S
ea in
Ala
ska.
K
nud
Ras
mus
sen
over
-win
tere
d w
ith o
ther
mem
bers
of
the
expe
ditio
n ne
arby
Igl
oolik
on
Dan
ish
Isla
nd. T
he f
ollo
win
g ex
cerp
ts a
re f
rom
The
In
telle
ctua
l Cul
ture
of
the
Iglu
lik E
skim
os a
nd A
cros
s A
rctic
Am
eric
a.
(With
tha
nks
to T
eren
ce C
ole’
s ‘I
ntro
duct
ion’
to
Acr
oss
Arc
tic A
mer
ica.
)
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
Kn
ud
Ra
smu
sse
n
Bet
wee
n 19
21 a
nd 1
924,
Knu
d R
asm
usse
n w
ith s
ix o
ther
mem
bers
of
the
expe
ditio
n le
d an
epi
c jo
urne
y of
inve
stig
atio
n ac
ross
the
top
of
the
Nor
th A
mer
ica
from
Gre
enla
nd t
o Si
beri
a. I
n th
ree
and
a ha
lf ye
ars
he a
nd h
is c
ompa
nion
s tr
avel
led
20,0
00 m
iles
by d
og s
led,
col
lect
ed
real
pi
ece
of
arch
itect
ure
in
snow
, su
ch a
s I
had
neve
r ye
t se
en. F
ive
huts
, bol
dly
arch
ed,
join
ed i
n a
long
pas
sage
-with
nu
mer
ous
stor
ehou
ses
built
ou
t se
para
tely
, min
or p
assa
ges
unit
ing
one
cham
ber
wit
h an
othe
r, so
th
at
one
coul
d go
all
over
the
pla
ce w
ithou
t ex
posu
re
to
the
wea
ther
. T
he v
ario
us h
uts
thus
uni
ted
serv
ed t
o ho
use
sixt
een
peop
le
in a
ll. O
rulo
too
k m
e fr
om
one
to
anot
her,
intr
oduc
ing
the
occu
pant
s. T
hey
had
been
liv
ing
here
for
som
e tim
e no
w,
and
the
heat
had
tha
wed
the
in
ner
surf
ace
of
the
wal
ls,
form
ing
icic
les t
hat h
ung
dow
n gl
eam
ing
in th
e so
ft li
ght o
f the
bl
ubbe
r la
mp.
It
look
ed m
ore
like
a ca
ve o
f st
alac
tites
tha
n an
or
dina
ry
snow
hu
t, an
d w
ould
hav
e lo
oked
chi
lly b
ut
for
the
mas
ses
of t
hick
, hea
vy c
arib
ou s
kin
spre
ad a
bout
.T
hrou
gh t
hese
win
ding
pas
sage
s, a
ll lit
with
tin
y bl
ubbe
r la
mps
, w
e w
ent
from
roo
m t
o ro
om,
shak
ing
hand
s w
ith o
ne a
fter
ano
ther
of
the
who
le la
rge
fam
ily. T
here
was
Aua
’s el
dest
son
Nat
aq, w
ith h
is w
ife, a
nd
the
youn
gest
son
Ija
rak
who
liv
ed w
ith h
is f
iftee
n-ye
ar-o
ld s
wee
thea
rt;
ther
e w
as A
ua’s
aged
sis
ter
Nat
seq
with
her
son
, son
-in-la
w a
nd a
floc
k of
ch
ildre
n; a
nd fi
nally
, out
in th
e fa
rthe
st e
nd o
f the
mai
n pa
ssag
e, th
e ge
nial
K
uvdl
o w
ith h
is w
ife a
nd a
new
born
infa
nt.
It w
as th
e fir
st ti
me
I had
vis
ited
so la
rge
a ho
useh
old,
and
I w
as m
uch
impr
esse
d by
the
pat
riar
chal
asp
ect
of t
he w
hole
. A
ua w
as u
nque
stio
ned
mas
ter
in h
is o
wn
hous
e, o
rder
ing
the
com
ings
and
goi
ngs
and
doin
gs o
f al
l but
he
and
his
wife
add
ress
ed e
ach
othe
r an
d th
e re
st w
ith t
he g
reat
est
kind
ness
, an
d no
t a
little
fun
; an
atm
osph
ere
of g
enia
l go
od h
umor
was
ev
iden
t th
roug
hout
.H
ot t
ea,
in u
nlim
ited
quan
tity,
was
wel
com
e af
ter
our
long
hou
rs i
n th
e co
ld,
and
this
bei
ng f
ollo
wed
by
a la
rge,
fat
fre
shly
coo
ked
hare
, it
was
not
lon
g be
fore
app
etite
gav
e w
ay t
o ea
se,
and
we
sett
led
ours
elve
s
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
103
I w
as t
o st
udy
the
inla
nd E
skim
os,
with
spe
cial
ref
eren
ce t
o th
e sp
iritu
al
side
of t
heir
cul
ture
. The
Esk
imo
mem
bers
of t
he p
arty
wer
e di
vide
d am
ong
the
seve
ral s
ub-e
xped
ition
s as
nee
ded,
and
tw
o of
the
m w
ould
rem
ain
on
guar
d at
the
hea
dqua
rter
s ca
mp.
We
had
a pr
etty
goo
d su
pply
of
pem
mic
an,
both
for
our
selv
es a
nd
for
the
dogs
, as
wel
l as
cann
ed g
oods
, whi
ch w
ould
for
m t
he b
asis
of
our
prov
isio
ns. W
e ha
d to
sup
plem
ent
it, h
owev
er, w
ith f
resh
mea
t. W
e w
ere
told
tha
t C
ape
Eliz
abet
h, t
owar
d th
e no
rth,
was
a g
ood
spot
for
wal
rus
at t
his
time
of y
ear,
and
I th
eref
ore
wen
t of
f w
ith M
iteq
and
two
of t
he
loca
l na
tives
to
try
our
luck
. W
e se
t ou
t on
the
11t
h of
Jan
uary
. D
espi
te
som
e di
ffic
ulty
, ow
ing
to s
now
, w
hich
dri
fted
thi
ckly
at
times
, w
e ha
d so
me
exci
ting
cari
bou
hunt
ing
on t
he i
ce d
urin
g th
e fir
st t
wo
days
. T
he
ther
mom
eter
sto
od a
t ab
out
min
us 5
0ºC
. (–
63º
F.)
and
ever
y tim
e w
e pi
cked
up
our
guns
with
the
nak
ed h
and
the
cold
ste
el t
ook
the
skin
off
.W
e pu
rcha
sed
som
e st
ores
of
mea
t at
Lyo
n In
let,
and
devo
ted
a fe
w
days
to
fetc
hing
the
se, a
fter
whi
ch w
e se
t ou
t ag
ain
to t
he N
orth
war
d to
fin
d th
e vi
llage
. Non
e of
us
knew
exa
ctly
whe
re it
was
, as
the
nativ
es h
ad
not
yet
mov
ed d
own
to t
he c
oast
, bu
t w
ere
enca
mpe
d so
me
way
inl
and
whe
re t
hey
had
been
eng
aged
on
thei
r au
tum
n ca
ribo
u hu
ntin
g.T
he 2
7th
of J
anua
ry w
as fi
ne, b
ut c
old;
it w
as b
righ
t sta
rlig
ht to
war
ds
the
clos
e of
the
jou
rney
, bu
t w
e ha
d ha
d a
long
and
tir
ing
day,
and
w
ishe
d fo
r no
thin
g be
tter
tha
n to
fin
d sh
elte
r w
ithou
t ha
ving
to
build
it
ours
elve
s.Su
dden
ly o
ut o
f the
dar
knes
s ah
ead
shot
a lo
ng s
ledg
e w
ith th
e w
ildes
t te
am I
hav
e ev
er s
een.
Fift
een
whi
te d
ogs
raci
ng d
own
at f
ull s
peed
, with
si
x m
en o
n th
e sl
edge
. The
y ca
me
dow
n on
us
at s
uch
a pa
ce t
hat
we
felt
the
win
d of
the
m a
s th
ey d
rew
alo
ngsi
de. A
litt
le m
an w
ith a
larg
e be
ard,
co
mpl
etel
y co
vere
d w
ith ic
e, le
apt
out
and
cam
e to
war
ds m
e, h
oldi
ng o
ut
his
hand
whi
te m
an’s
fash
ion.
The
n ha
lting
, he
poi
nted
inl
and
to s
ome
snow
hut
s. H
is k
een
eyes
wer
e al
ight
with
vita
lity
as h
e ut
tere
d th
e ri
ngin
g gr
eetin
g: “
Quj
angn
amik
” (t
hank
s to
the
com
ing
gues
ts).
Thi
s w
as A
ua, t
he a
ngak
oq.
Obs
ervi
ng th
at m
y do
gs w
ere
tired
aft
er th
eir
day’
s ru
n, h
e in
vite
d m
e to
cha
nge
over
to
his
sled
ge, a
nd q
uiet
ly, b
ut w
ith a
utho
rity
, tol
d of
f on
e of
the
you
ng m
en in
his
par
ty t
o at
tend
to
min
e. A
ua’s
dogs
gav
e to
ngue
vi
olen
tly,
eage
r to
be
off
agai
n an
d ge
t ho
me
to t
heir
mea
l; an
d so
on w
e w
ere
raci
ng a
way
tow
ards
the
villa
ge. A
bri
ef d
ash
at b
reak
neck
spee
d, a
nd
we
arri
ved
at t
he v
erge
of
a bi
g la
ke, w
here
sno
w h
uts
with
gut
win
dow
s se
nt o
ut a
war
m g
low
of
wel
com
e.T
he w
omen
cam
e ou
t to
gre
et u
s, a
nd A
ua’s
wife
, Oru
lo, l
ed m
e in
to
the
hous
e. I
t w
as,
inde
ed,
a gr
oup
of h
ouse
s, c
leve
rly
built
tog
ethe
r, a
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
102
Aua
and
Oru
lo
An
open
ing
appe
ared
som
ewhe
re a
t the
bac
k of
Kuv
dlo’
s ho
use,
and
th
roug
h it
cam
e cr
awlin
g M
rs.
Kuv
dlo,
wit
h th
e lit
tle
new
-bor
n in
fant
in
her
arm
s. S
he p
lant
ed h
erse
lf i
n fr
ont
of t
he h
ut a
nd s
tood
wai
ting
un
til
Aua
app
eare
d. A
ua,
of c
ours
e, w
as t
he s
piri
tual
she
pher
d of
the
fl
ock.
He
step
ped
forw
ard
tow
ards
the
child
, bar
ed it
s he
ad, a
nd p
laci
ng
his
lips
clos
e to
its
fac
e, u
tter
ed t
he f
ollo
win
g he
athe
n eq
uiva
lent
of
a m
orni
ng p
raye
r:
“I r
ise
up f
rom
res
t, M
ovin
g sw
iftly
as
the
rave
n’s
win
g I
rise
up
to m
eet
the
day
– W
a-w
a.M
y fa
ce is
tur
ned
from
the
dar
k of
nig
htM
y ga
ze t
owar
d th
e da
wn,
To
war
d th
e w
hite
ning
daw
n.”
It w
as t
he c
hild
’s fir
st j
ourn
ey,
and
the
mor
ning
hym
n w
as a
mag
ic
form
ula
to b
ring
it lu
ck t
hrou
gh li
fe.
The
win
ter i
ce e
xten
ds so
me
mile
s out
from
the
shor
e, to
all
inte
nts a
nd
purp
oses
as
firm
as
land
. The
n co
mes
the
wat
er, w
ith p
ack
ice
drift
ing
this
w
ay a
nd th
at a
ccor
ding
to w
ind
and
curr
ent.
Whe
n th
e w
ind
is
blow
ing
off
shor
e, h
oles
app
ear
in t
he i
ce j
ust
at t
he e
dge,
and
th
e w
alru
s fo
llow
the
se,
divi
ng
dow
n to
the
bot
tom
to
feed
.A
ua
and
I ha
d se
ttle
d ou
rsel
ves,
lik
e th
e ot
hers
, in
co
mpa
rativ
e sh
elte
r be
hind
a
hum
moc
k of
ice
, w
ith a
goo
d vi
ew a
ll ro
und.
The
vig
il w
as b
y no
mea
ns m
onot
onou
s; t
here
w
as s
omet
hing
goi
ng o
n al
l the
tim
e, c
allin
g up
mem
orie
s of
pa
st h
untin
g. T
he p
ack
ice
was
in
con
stan
t m
ovem
ent,
surg
ing
and
stra
inin
g an
d gr
oani
ng a
t ev
ery
chec
k.
Now
an
d th
en
a ga
p w
ould
app
ear,
and
the
nake
d w
ater
sen
t up
a f
reez
ing
mis
t lik
e bl
ue s
mok
e, t
hrou
gh
whi
ch w
e co
uld
just
dis
cern
the
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
105
com
fort
ably
am
ong
the
soft
and
ple
asan
t sm
ellin
g ca
ribo
u sk
ins.
We
expl
aine
d th
at w
e ha
d co
me
dow
n to
hun
t w
alru
s, a
nd t
he n
ews
was
gre
eted
with
acc
lam
atio
n by
our
hos
t an
d hi
s pa
rty.
The
y ha
d be
en
thin
king
of
doin
g th
e sa
me
them
selv
es, a
nd it
was
now
sug
gest
ed t
hat
the
who
le v
illag
e sh
ould
mov
e do
wn
to s
ome
snow
drift
s on
the
low
lyin
g la
nd
at C
ape
Eliz
abet
h. T
hey
had
been
hun
ting
inla
nd a
ll th
e su
mm
er, a
nd th
ere
wer
e nu
mer
ous
good
mea
t de
pots
est
ablis
hed
in t
he n
eigh
borh
ood.
The
re
was
oil
enou
gh t
o w
arm
up
the
hous
es f
or a
whi
le,
but
the
last
bag
of
blub
ber
had
alre
ady
been
ope
ned.
We
deci
ded
ther
efor
e to
go
hunt
ing
on
the
ice.
It
was
nec
essa
ry f
irst
of
all,
how
ever
, to
spen
d on
e da
y in
fet
chin
g in
sto
res
of c
arib
ou m
eat f
rom
the
depo
ts, a
s th
ere
was
no
sayi
ng h
ow lo
ng
it m
ight
be
befo
re w
e pr
ocur
ed a
ny o
ther
.O
n th
e da
y of
the
final
mov
e, a
ll w
ere
up b
etim
es a
nd b
usily
at w
ork.
Po
ts a
nd d
ishe
s an
d ki
tche
n ut
ensi
ls g
ener
ally
wer
e tr
undl
ed o
ut t
hrou
gh
the
pass
ages
, with
gre
at b
ales
of
cari
bou
skin
s, s
ome
new
and
unt
ouch
ed,
othe
rs m
ore
or l
ess
prep
ared
, an
d hu
ge u
nwie
ldy
bund
les
of c
loth
ing,
m
en’s,
wom
en’s
and
child
ren’
s. T
he th
ings
had
not
see
med
to ta
ke u
p m
uch
room
with
in d
oors
, whe
re e
very
thin
g ha
d its
pla
ce a
nd u
se, b
ut th
e w
hole
co
llect
ion
stac
ked
outs
ide
in th
e op
en a
ir lo
oked
as
cum
brou
s an
d ch
aotic
, as
unm
ista
kabl
y “m
ovin
g” a
s th
e w
orld
ly g
oods
of a
ny c
ity a
nd s
ubur
ban
fam
ily w
aitin
g on
the
pav
emen
t fo
r th
e fu
rnitu
re v
an.
Just
at
the
last
mom
ent,
whe
n th
e sl
edge
s w
ere
load
ed u
p to
the
fu
ll, a
nd t
he t
eam
s re
ady
to s
tart
, I
had
the
good
for
tune
to
witn
ess
a ch
arac
teri
stic
litt
le c
erem
ony;
the
initi
atio
n of
an
infa
nt s
ettin
g ou
t on
its
first
jour
ney
into
the
wor
ld.
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
104
Aua
’s sn
ow c
amp
Ival
uard
juk
– A
ua’s
brot
her
out.
The
re w
as n
o lo
nger
any
nee
d to
stin
t th
e bl
ubbe
r fo
r th
e la
mps
, and
th
ere
was
foo
d in
ple
nty
for
ours
elve
s an
d th
e do
gs.
A w
ell-s
tock
ed l
arde
r se
ts o
ne’s
min
d at
res
t, an
d on
e fe
els
mor
e at
lib
erty
to
cons
ider
hig
her
thin
gs.
Als
o, o
ur s
urro
undi
ngs
gene
rally
wer
e co
mfo
rtab
le e
noug
h. T
he n
ew s
now
hut
was
not
qui
te a
s la
rge
as t
he
form
er, a
nd la
cked
the
fan
tast
ic ic
icle
ado
rnm
ent
with
in; b
ut it
was
eas
ier
to m
ake
it w
arm
and
cos
y. T
he m
ain
port
ion,
the
res
iden
ce o
f A
ua a
nd
his
wife
, was
larg
e en
ough
to
slee
p tw
enty
with
eas
e. O
peni
ng o
ut o
f th
is,
thro
ugh
a lo
fty
port
al,
was
a k
ind
of e
ntra
nce
hall,
whe
re y
ou b
rush
off
th
e sn
ow b
efor
e co
min
g in
to
the
war
mth
of
the
inne
r ap
artm
ent.
On
the
oppo
site
sid
e ag
ain
was
a la
rge,
ligh
t ann
ex, a
ccom
mod
atin
g tw
o fa
mili
es.
As
long
as
ther
e w
as b
lubb
er e
noug
h, s
even
or
eigh
t la
mps
wer
e ke
pt
burn
ing,
and
the
pla
ce w
as s
o w
arm
tha
t on
e co
uld
go a
bout
hal
f na
ked
and
enjo
y it.
Whi
ch s
how
s w
hat c
an b
e m
ade
out o
f a s
now
drift
whe
n yo
u kn
ow h
ow t
o go
abo
ut it
.A
ua g
ave
me
leav
e to
ask
que
stio
ns,
and
prom
ised
to
answ
er t
hem
. A
nd I
ques
tione
d hi
m a
ccor
ding
ly, c
hief
ly u
pon
mat
ters
of r
elig
ion,
hav
ing
alre
ady
perc
eive
d th
at t
he r
elig
ious
ide
as o
f th
ese
peop
le m
ust
be i
n th
e m
ain
iden
tical
with
tho
se o
f th
e G
reen
land
Esk
imo.
A p
rom
inen
t ch
arac
ter
in t
he G
reen
land
myt
holo
gy is
the
Mis
tres
s of
th
e Se
a, w
ho li
ves
on t
he f
loor
of
the
ocea
n. I
ask
ed A
ua t
o te
ll m
e al
l he
coul
d ab
out
her.
Not
hing
loa
th,
he s
ettle
d hi
mse
lf to
the
tas
k, a
nd w
ith
eloq
uent
ges
ture
s an
d a
voic
e th
at r
ose
and
fell
in a
ccor
d w
ith th
e te
nor
of
his
them
e, h
e to
ld t
he s
tory
of
the
godd
ess
of m
eat
from
the
sea
.Br
iefly
, it
is a
s fo
llow
s: T
here
was
onc
e a
girl
who
ref
used
all
offe
rs
of m
arri
age,
unt
il at
las
t sh
e w
as e
ntic
ed a
way
by
a pe
trel
dis
guis
ed a
s a
hand
som
e yo
ung
man
. A
fter
liv
ing
with
him
for
som
e tim
e, s
he w
as
resc
ued
by h
er fa
ther
, but
the
petr
el, s
ettin
g ou
t in
purs
uit,
rais
ed a
vio
lent
st
orm
, an
d th
e fa
ther
, in
ter
ror,
thre
w t
he g
irl
over
boar
d to
lig
hten
the
bo
at. S
he c
lung
to th
e si
de, a
nd h
e ch
oppe
d of
f, fir
st th
e tip
s of
her
fing
ers,
th
en t
he o
ther
joi
nts,
and
fin
ally
the
wri
sts.
And
the
joi
nts
turn
ed i
nto
seal
and
wal
rus
as t
hey
fell
into
the
sea
. But
the
gir
l san
k to
the
bot
tom
, an
d liv
es t
here
now
, an
d ru
les
over
all
the
crea
ture
s of
the
sea
. Sh
e is
ca
lled
Taka
nalu
k A
rnal
uk;
and
it is
her
fat
her
who
is
char
ged
with
the
pu
nish
men
t of t
hose
who
hav
e si
nned
on
eart
h an
d ar
e no
t yet
allo
wed
to
ente
r th
e la
nd o
f th
e de
ad.
Aua
’s w
ife w
as o
ne o
f th
ose
wom
en w
ho g
ive
them
selv
es u
p en
tirel
y to
the
car
e of
the
ir h
ouse
and
tho
se a
bout
the
m.
She
was
nev
er i
dle
for
a m
omen
t du
ring
the
day
, an
d th
e am
ount
of
wor
k sh
e m
anag
ed t
o ge
t th
roug
h w
as a
ston
ishi
ng.
She
liked
nee
dlew
ork
best
, bu
t th
ere
was
ce
rtai
nly
no l
ack
of t
hat,
in t
he r
epai
ring
of
all
the
garm
ents
wor
n an
d
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
107
blac
k sh
apes
of
the
wal
rus
risi
ng t
o br
eath
e. W
e co
uld
hear
the
ir l
ong,
sl
ow g
asp
– an
d th
en d
own
they
wen
t to
thei
r fe
edin
g gr
ound
s be
low
. We
had
both
exp
erie
nced
it
all
man
y a
time
befo
re;
and
the
fam
iliar
sig
hts
and
soun
ds lo
osen
ed o
ur t
ongu
es in
rec
olle
ctio
n.“M
en a
nd t
he b
east
s ar
e m
uch
alik
e,”
said
Aua
sag
ely.
“A
nd s
o it
was
our
fat
hers
bel
ieve
d th
at m
en c
ould
be
anim
als
for
a tim
e, t
hen
men
ag
ain.
” So
he
told
the
stor
y of
a b
ear h
e ha
d on
ce o
bser
ved,
hun
ting
wal
rus
like
a hu
man
bei
ng, c
reep
ing
up a
nd t
akin
g co
ver,
till i
t go
t w
ithin
ran
ge,
whe
n it
flung
a h
uge
bloc
k of
ice
that
str
uck
its v
ictim
sen
sele
ss.
The
n su
dden
ly A
ua h
imse
lf ga
ve a
sta
rt –
he
had
been
kee
ping
a
good
loo
k ou
t al
l th
e tim
e –
and
poin
ted
to w
here
Mite
q w
as s
tand
ing
with
his
har
poon
rai
sed.
Jus
t ah
ead
of h
im w
as a
tin
y ga
p in
the
ice,
the
m
eres
t pu
ddle
, with
bar
ely
room
for
the
bro
ad b
ack
of a
wal
rus
that
now
ap
pear
ed. M
iteq
wai
ted
till t
he h
ead
cam
e up
, and
then
, bef
ore
the
crea
ture
ha
d tim
e to
bre
athe
, dro
ve h
is h
arpo
on d
eep
into
the
blu
bber
of
its f
lank
. T
here
was
a g
urgl
e of
sal
t w
ater
, a
foun
tain
of
spra
y flu
ng o
ut o
ver
the
ice,
and
the
wal
rus
disa
ppea
red.
But
Mite
q ha
d al
read
y th
rust
his
ice-
axe
thro
ugh
the
loop
at
the
end
of h
is h
arpo
on li
ne, a
nd t
he w
alru
s w
as h
eld.
We
hurr
ied
up a
nd h
elpe
d to
hau
l it i
n, d
ispa
tche
d it,
and
set
abo
ut th
e w
ork
of c
uttin
g up
. Thi
s w
as c
ompl
eted
bef
ore
dark
, and
whe
n w
e dr
ove
in th
at n
ight
to th
e ne
w s
now
pal
ace
at It
ible
rian
g, I
was
pro
ud to
feel
that
on
e of
my
own
part
y ha
d gi
ven
thes
e pr
ofes
sion
als
a le
ad o
n th
eir
own
grou
nd.
The
re w
as g
reat
rej
oici
ng a
t ou
r ar
riva
l; a
full-
grow
n w
alru
s m
eans
m
eat
and
blub
ber
for
man
y da
ys, a
nd t
his
was
the
fir
st d
ay w
e ha
d be
en
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
106
Apa
k, d
augh
ter o
f the
sha
man
Aua
, was
visi
onar
y an
d he
re d
rew
one
of h
er
visio
ns –
a fo
ur-le
gged
mou
ntai
n sp
irit
by
Apa
k 3
mea
t her
e, a
lum
p of
blu
bber
ther
e, w
here
ver
any
mig
ht b
e ru
nnin
g sh
ort.
I had
oft
en a
sked
her
to te
ll m
e so
met
hing
abo
ut h
er li
fe a
nd s
uch
even
ts a
s ha
d m
ade
any
impr
essi
on o
n he
r m
ind,
but
she
alw
ays
turn
ed it
off
with
a
joke
; the
re w
as n
othi
ng to
tell.
I w
ould
not
leav
e he
r in
pea
ce, h
owev
er; f
or
this
see
med
to m
e an
am
usin
g fa
shio
n in
whi
ch to
get
a g
limps
e of
Esk
imo
life.
At
last
one
day
whe
n w
e w
ere
all a
lone
in t
he h
ouse
, and
the
oth
ers
out
hunt
ing,
she
beg
an t
o ta
lk.
She
was
sitt
ing
in h
er u
sual
wor
kpla
ce
behi
nd th
e la
mp,
with
her
bar
e le
gs c
ross
ed, s
ewin
g at
a p
air
of w
ater
proo
f bo
ots,
whe
n su
dden
ly s
he h
erse
lf in
terr
upte
d m
e in
my
wor
k, b
reak
ing
out
with
out
the
leas
t in
trod
uctio
n in
to a
flo
w o
f ol
d re
colle
ctio
ns:
“I a
m c
alle
d O
rulo
(“t
he d
iffic
ult
one”
), bu
t m
y na
me
is r
eally
A
qigi
arju
k (“
the
little
pta
rmig
an”)
. I w
as b
orn
at t
he m
outh
of
Adm
iral
ty
Inle
t. W
hile
I w
as s
till
a lit
tle c
hild
car
ried
on
my
mot
her’s
bac
k, m
y pa
rent
s le
ft B
affin
Lan
d an
d se
ttle
d at
Igl
ulik
.“T
he f
irst
thi
ng I
can
rem
embe
r is
tha
t m
y m
othe
r liv
ed q
uite
alo
ne
in a
litt
le s
now
hut
. I
coul
d no
t un
ders
tand
why
my
fath
er w
ould
liv
e in
an
othe
r ho
use,
but
then
I w
as to
ld th
at it
was
bec
ause
my
mot
her
had
just
ha
d a
child
and
was
the
refo
re u
ncle
an a
nd m
ust
not
be n
ear
the
anim
als
kille
d fo
r so
me
time
to c
ome.
But
I w
as a
llow
ed t
o vi
sit
her
whe
n I
liked
; on
ly I
coul
d ne
ver
find
the
entr
ance
to th
at h
ut. I
was
so
little
that
I co
uld
not s
ee o
ver
the
bloc
k of
sno
w th
e ot
hers
ste
pped
acr
oss
as th
ey w
ent i
n, s
o I h
ad to
sta
nd th
ere
calli
ng o
ut ‘M
othe
r, M
othe
r, I w
ant t
o co
me
in!’
until
so
meo
ne c
ame
and
lifte
d m
e ov
er in
to t
he p
assa
ge. A
nd t
hen
whe
n I
was
in
side
, the
sno
w b
ench
whe
re s
he s
at lo
oked
so
high
, so
high
, I c
ould
not
ge
t up
the
re m
ysel
f bu
t ha
d to
be
lifte
d. I
was
no
bigg
er t
han
that
whe
n I
first
beg
an t
o re
mem
ber
thin
gs.
“The
nex
t th
ing
I re
mem
ber
is f
rom
Pili
ng,
a bi
g hu
ntin
g gr
ound
in
Baff
in L
and.
I r
emem
ber
gnaw
ing
mea
t fr
om t
he le
g of
a b
ird,
a h
uge
big
thig
hbon
e, a
nd I
was
told
it w
as a
goo
se. U
p til
l the
n I k
new
not
hing
big
ger
than
pta
rmig
an, a
nd t
houg
ht it
mus
t be
a t
erri
bly
big
bird
.“T
hen
all m
y m
emor
ies
disa
ppea
r, un
til o
ne d
ay a
s it
wer
e, I
wak
e up
ag
ain,
and
then
we
wer
e liv
ing
at a
pla
ce c
alle
d T
he M
ount
ain.
My
fath
er
was
ill,
all t
he o
ther
s in
the
pla
ce h
ad g
one
off
hunt
ing
inla
nd, a
nd I
was
le
ft a
lone
. Fa
ther
had
pai
ns i
n hi
s ch
est
and
lung
s, a
nd g
rew
wor
se a
nd
wor
se. W
e w
ere
quite
alo
ne, m
y m
othe
r, m
y tw
o lit
tle b
roth
ers
and
I, an
d m
othe
r w
as v
ery
unha
ppy.
“One
day
I ca
me
runn
ing
into
the
tent
and
cal
led
out:
‘Her
e ar
e w
hite
m
en c
omin
g!’ I
had
see
n w
hat I
thou
ght m
ust b
e w
hite
men
; but
whe
n m
y fa
ther
hea
rd it
, he
gave
a d
eep
sigh
, and
sai
d, ‘A
las
I th
ough
t I
mig
ht y
et
live
and
brea
the
a lit
tle w
hile
; bu
t no
w I
kno
w t
hat
I sh
all
neve
r go
out
hu
ntin
g an
y m
ore.
’
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
109
torn
in
the
daily
hun
ting
expe
ditio
ns.
And
the
re w
ere
man
y ot
her
dutie
s to
att
end
to. S
he h
ad to
fetc
h in
sno
w fo
r m
eltin
g, a
nd s
ee th
at th
e bu
cket
w
as a
lway
s fu
ll. M
eat h
ad to
be
thaw
ed o
n th
e si
de b
ench
, whe
re a
por
tion
mus
t al
way
s be
in r
eadi
ness
, dog
foo
d m
ust
be c
ut u
p an
d ke
pt r
eady
for
th
e te
ams
on t
heir
ret
urn,
the
re w
as b
lubb
er t
o be
fro
zen
and
beat
en t
o m
ake
the
oil r
un o
f its
elf
read
y fo
r th
e la
mp,
and
the
lam
p in
tur
n ha
d to
be
car
eful
ly t
ende
d so
tha
t it
did
not
smok
e. I
f th
e he
at i
n th
e hu
t ro
se
beyo
nd a
cer
tain
lim
it th
e sn
ow o
n th
e in
side
of
the
roof
wou
ld m
elt
and
drip
; th
is h
ad t
o be
sto
pped
by
the
appl
icat
ion
of f
resh
lum
ps o
f sn
ow
from
with
out,
plas
tere
d on
to
the
wea
keni
ng s
pots
. Sho
uld
an a
ctua
l hol
e be
tha
wed
in
roof
or
wal
ls,
she
had
to g
o ou
tsid
e he
rsel
f an
d tr
im t
he
open
ing,
filli
ng it
up
then
with
fres
h bl
ocks
of s
now
. Raw
sea
lski
ns h
ad to
be
scr
aped
fre
e of
blu
bber
and
str
etch
ed o
ut t
o dr
y ov
er t
he l
amp,
sla
bs
of h
ide
for
sole
leat
her,
hard
as
woo
d, h
ad to
be
chew
ed ti
ll so
ft. A
ll th
ese
hous
ehol
d du
ties
how
ever
, wer
e ch
eerf
ully
tak
en a
s pa
rt o
f he
r bu
sy d
ay,
to t
he a
ccom
pani
men
t of
scr
aps
of s
ong;
and
one
cou
ld a
lway
s be
sur
e of
he
arin
g th
e m
usic
of
cook
ing
pots
joi
ned
to O
rulo
’s co
nten
ted
hum
min
g w
hen
the
hunt
ers
wer
e ex
pect
ed h
ome.
Thu
s th
e ho
urs
pass
ed,
and
with
all
she
foun
d tim
e to
gla
nce
in n
ow
and
agai
n at
the
oth
er h
ouse
s an
d he
lp o
ut a
ny li
ttle
sca
rcity
, a p
ortio
n of
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
108
The
thre
e sh
aman
bro
ther
s of
Iglo
olik
/Rep
ulse
Bay
: Iv
alua
rdju
k, A
ua a
nd P
ilaka
psi
with
gre
at a
nd s
pont
aneo
us r
ejoi
cing
, w
hile
evi
l tim
es a
re e
ndur
ed w
ith
a su
rpri
sing
and
oft
en s
ublim
e re
sign
atio
n. B
ut i
n th
eir
auto
biog
raph
ies,
th
e re
ligio
us id
eas
expr
esse
d ar
e so
hes
itatin
g an
d un
cert
ain
that
it s
eem
s at
fir
st a
s if
all
wer
e co
nfus
ion
and
that
the
con
trad
ictio
ns c
ontin
ually
m
et w
ith m
ust a
lmos
t pre
clud
e th
e fin
ding
of a
ny s
ense
in th
e sc
hem
e as
a
who
le. O
ne is
her
e to
o of
ten
apt t
o fo
rget
that
one
is d
ealin
g w
ith p
rim
itive
m
inds
, and
onl
y w
hen
one
has
real
ised
tha
t th
e m
ode
of t
houg
ht a
nd t
he
logi
c of
the
sto
ne a
ge a
re n
ot t
he s
ame
as o
urs
can
one
appr
ecia
te t
he
unde
rlyi
ng u
nity
in a
ll th
ese
appa
rent
inco
nsis
tenc
ies.
I onc
e w
ent o
ut to
Aua
’s hu
ntin
g qu
arte
rs o
n th
e ic
e ou
tsid
e Ly
on In
let
to s
pend
som
e tim
e w
ith t
he m
en I
hav
e re
ferr
ed t
o in
the
for
egoi
ng.
For
seve
ral e
veni
ngs
we
had
disc
usse
d ru
les
of li
fe a
nd t
aboo
cus
tom
s w
ithou
t ge
ttin
g be
yond
a lo
ng a
nd c
ircu
mst
antia
l sta
tem
ent o
f all
that
was
per
mitt
ed
and
all t
hat
was
for
bidd
en. E
very
one
knew
pre
cise
ly w
hat
had
to b
e do
ne
in a
ny g
iven
situ
atio
n, b
ut w
hene
ver
I put
in m
y qu
ery:
“W
hy?”
they
cou
ld
give
no
answ
er.
The
y re
gard
ed i
t, an
d ve
ry r
ight
ly,
as u
nrea
sona
ble
that
I
shou
ld re
quir
e no
t onl
y an
acc
ount
, but
als
o a
just
ifica
tion,
of t
heir
relig
ious
pr
inci
ples
. The
y ha
d of
cou
rse
no id
ea th
at a
ll m
y qu
estio
ns, n
ow th
at I
had
obta
ined
the
inf
orm
atio
n I
wis
hed
for,
wer
e on
ly i
nten
ded
to m
ake
them
re
act
in s
uch
a m
anne
r th
at t
hey
shou
ld, e
xcite
d by
my
inqu
isiti
vene
ss, b
e ab
le to
giv
e an
insp
ired
exp
lana
tion.
Aua
had
as
usua
l bee
n th
e sp
okes
man
, an
d as
he
was
stil
l una
ble
to a
nsw
er m
y qu
estio
ns, h
e ro
se t
o hi
s fe
et, a
nd
as if
sei
zed
by a
sud
den
impu
lse,
invi
ted
me
to g
o ou
tsid
e w
ith h
im.
It h
ad b
een
an u
nusu
ally
rou
gh d
ay, a
nd a
s w
e ha
d pl
enty
of m
eat a
fter
th
e su
cces
sful
hun
ting
of t
he p
ast
few
day
s, I
had
ask
ed m
y ho
st t
o st
ay a
t ho
me
so th
at w
e co
uld
get s
ome
wor
k do
ne to
geth
er. T
he b
rief
day
light
had
gi
ven
plac
e to
the
hal
f-lig
ht o
f th
e af
tern
oon,
but
as
the
moo
n w
as u
p on
e co
uld
still
see
som
e di
stan
ce. R
agge
d w
hite
clo
uds
race
d ac
ross
the
sky,
and
w
hen
a gu
st o
f w
ind
cam
e te
arin
g ov
er t
he g
roun
d, o
ur e
yes
and
mou
ths
wer
e fil
led
with
sno
w. A
ua lo
oked
me
full
in th
e fa
ce, a
nd p
oint
ing
out o
ver
115
man
y fe
asts
on
that
occ
asio
n, f
east
s su
ch I
ha
d on
ly h
eard
abo
ut, b
ut n
ever
tak
en p
art
in m
ysel
f.”O
rulo
had
bee
n th
orou
ghly
in
earn
est
in t
ellin
g m
e th
e st
ory
of h
er li
fe, a
nd I
had
no
ticed
, as
she
wor
ked
hers
elf
up,
how
the
m
emor
ies
cam
e cr
owdi
ng i
n up
on h
er a
nd
took
pos
sess
ion
of h
er c
ompl
etel
y. W
hen
at la
st
she
had
finis
hed
her
stor
y, s
he b
urst
out
cry
ing,
as
if o
verw
helm
ed b
y so
me
grea
t so
rrow
. I a
sked
w
hat w
as th
e ca
use
of h
er e
mot
ion,
and
she
ans
wer
ed:
“I h
ave
toda
y be
en a
chi
ld o
nce
mor
e. W
hile
I w
as te
lling
you
all
abou
t m
y lif
e, I
lived
it o
ver a
gain
, and
saw
and
felt
ever
ythi
ng in
the
sam
e w
ay a
s w
hen
it re
ally
hap
pene
d. T
here
are
so
man
y th
ings
we
do n
ot th
ink
of u
ntil
the
mem
oire
s ar
e up
on u
s. A
nd n
ow y
ou h
ave
lear
ned
the
life
of a
n ol
d w
oman
fro
m t
he v
ery
begi
nnin
g to
thi
s da
y. A
nd I
cou
ld n
ot h
elp
cryi
ng
for
joy
to t
hink
I h
ad b
een
so h
appy
...”
I as
ked
Aua
why
the
sou
l was
alw
ays
give
n so
pro
min
ent
a pl
ace
in t
heir
re
ligio
us id
eas,
and
he
answ
ered
: “W
e ig
nora
nt E
skim
os li
ving
up
here
do
not
belie
ve, a
s yo
u ha
ve t
old
us m
any
whi
te m
en d
o, in
one
gre
at s
olita
ry
spir
it th
at f
rom
a p
lace
far
up
in t
he s
ky m
aint
ains
hum
anity
and
all
the
life
of n
atur
e. A
mon
g us
, as
I ha
ve a
lrea
dy e
xpla
ined
to
you,
all
is b
ound
up
with
the
ear
th w
e liv
e on
and
our
life
her
e; a
nd it
wou
ld b
e ev
en m
ore
inco
mpr
ehen
sibl
e, e
ven
mor
e un
reas
onab
le, i
f, af
ter
a lif
e sh
ort o
r lo
ng, o
f ha
ppy
days
or
of s
uffe
ring
and
mis
ery,
we
wer
e th
en t
o ce
ase
alto
geth
er
from
exi
sten
ce.
Wha
t w
e ha
ve h
eard
abo
ut t
he s
oul
show
s us
tha
t th
e lif
e of
men
and
bea
sts
does
not
end
with
dea
th.
Whe
n at
the
end
of
life
we
draw
our
last
bre
ath,
tha
t is
not
the
end
. We
awak
e to
con
scio
usne
ss
agai
n, w
e co
me
to li
fe a
gain
, and
all
this
is e
ffec
ted
thro
ugh
the
med
ium
of
the
soul
. The
refo
re it
is th
at w
e re
gard
the
soul
as
the
grea
test
and
mos
t in
com
preh
ensi
ble
of a
ll. I
n ou
r or
dina
ry e
very
day
life
we
do n
ot t
hink
m
uch
abou
t al
l th
ese
thin
gs,
and
it is
onl
y no
w y
ou a
sk t
hat
so m
any
thou
ghts
ari
se i
n m
y he
ad o
f lo
ng-k
now
n th
ings
: ol
d th
ough
ts,
but
as i
t w
ere
beco
min
g al
toge
ther
new
whe
n on
e ha
s to
put
the
m in
to w
ords
.”
Re
ligio
n A
nd
Vie
ws
of
Lif
e –
We
Do
No
t B
elie
ve
, W
e F
ea
r
The
ske
tche
s of
Esk
imo
life
give
n in
the
fore
goin
g sh
ow th
at th
ese
peop
le,
like
so m
any
othe
r ch
ildre
n of
Nat
ure,
acc
ept
all
plea
sant
hap
peni
ngs
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
114
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
AC
RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
Igtu
k th
e bo
omer
by
Ana
rqaq
6Th
ree
spiri
ts
by A
narq
aq7
Thi
s en
ded
his
dem
onst
ratio
n, a
nd w
e re
turn
ed t
o ou
r ho
use,
to
resu
me,
with
the
oth
ers,
the
inte
rrup
ted
disc
ussi
on.
“You
see
,” s
aid
Aua
, “yo
u ar
e eq
ually
una
ble
to g
ive
any
reas
on w
hen
we
ask
you
why
life
is
as i
t is
. A
nd s
o it
mus
t be
. A
ll ou
r cu
stom
s co
me
from
life
and
turn
tow
ards
life
; we
expl
ain
noth
ing,
we
belie
ve n
othi
ng, b
ut
in w
hat
I ha
ve ju
st s
how
n yo
u lie
s ou
r an
swer
to
all y
ou a
sk.
“We
fear
the
wea
ther
spi
rit
of e
arth
, th
at w
e m
ust
fight
aga
inst
to
wre
st o
ur f
ood
from
land
and
sea
. We
fear
Sila
.“W
e fe
ar d
eath
and
hun
ger
in t
he c
old
snow
hut
s.“W
e fe
ar T
akan
akap
salu
k, t
he g
reat
wom
an d
own
at t
he b
otto
m o
f th
e se
a, t
hat
rule
s ov
er a
ll th
e be
asts
of
the
sea.
“We
fear
the
sick
ness
that
we
mee
t with
dai
ly a
ll ar
ound
us;
not
dea
th,
but
the
suff
erin
g. W
e fe
ar t
he e
vil s
piri
ts o
f lif
e, t
hose
of
the
air,
of t
he s
ea
and
the
eart
h, t
hat
can
help
wic
ked
sham
ans
to h
arm
the
ir f
ello
w m
en.
“We
fear
the
sou
ls o
f de
ad h
uman
bei
ngs
and
of t
he a
nim
als
we
have
ki
lled. “T
here
fore
it
is t
hat
our
fath
ers
have
inh
erite
d fr
om t
heir
fat
hers
all
the
old
rule
s of
life
whi
ch a
re b
ased
on
the
expe
rien
ce a
nd w
isdo
m o
f ge
nera
tions
. We
do n
ot k
now
how
, we
cann
ot s
ay w
hy, b
ut w
e ke
ep th
ose
rule
s in
ord
er th
at w
e m
ay li
ve u
ntro
uble
d. A
nd s
o ig
nora
nt a
re w
e in
spi
te
of a
ll ou
r sha
man
s, th
at w
e fe
ar e
very
thin
g un
fam
iliar
. We
fear
wha
t we
see
abou
t us,
and
we
fear
all
the
invi
sibl
e th
ings
that
are
like
wis
e ab
out u
s, a
ll th
at w
e ha
ve h
eard
of
in o
ur f
oref
athe
rs’ s
tori
es a
nd m
yths
. The
refo
re w
e ha
ve o
ur c
usto
ms,
whi
ch a
re n
ot t
he s
ame
as t
hose
of
the
whi
te m
en, t
he
whi
te m
en w
ho li
ve in
ano
ther
land
and
hav
e ne
ed o
f ot
her
way
s.”
Tha
t w
as A
ua’s
expl
anat
ion;
he
was
, as
alw
ays,
cle
ar i
n hi
s lin
e of
th
ough
t, an
d w
ith a
rem
arka
ble
pow
er o
f ex
pres
sing
wha
t he
mea
nt.
He
was
sile
nt t
hen,
and
as
I di
d no
t at
onc
e re
sum
e th
e co
nver
satio
n, h
is
youn
ger
brot
her
Ival
uard
juk
took
up
the
them
e, a
nd s
aid:
“The
gre
ates
t pe
ril
of l
ife l
ies
in t
he f
act
that
hum
an f
ood
cons
ists
en
tirel
y of
sou
ls.
“All
the
crea
ture
s th
at w
e ha
ve t
o ki
ll an
d ea
t, al
l tho
se t
hat
we
have
to
str
ike
dow
n an
d de
stro
y to
mak
e cl
othe
s fo
r ou
rsel
ves,
hav
e so
uls,
like
w
e ha
ve, s
ouls
that
do
not p
eris
h w
ith th
e bo
dy, a
nd w
hich
mus
t the
refo
re
be p
ropi
tiate
d le
st t
hey
shou
ld r
even
ge t
hem
selv
es o
n us
for
tak
ing
away
th
eir
bodi
es.”
“In
the
old
days
, it
was
far
wor
se t
han
it is
now
,” p
ut i
n A
narq
fiq,
“Eve
ryth
ing
was
mor
e di
ffic
ult,
and
our
cust
oms
acco
rdin
gly
muc
h m
ore
stri
ct.
In t
hose
day
s, m
en h
unte
d on
ly w
ith b
ow a
nd a
rrow
and
kne
w
noth
ing
of t
he w
hite
men
’s fir
earm
s. I
t w
as f
ar m
ore
diff
icul
t to
live
the
n,
and
ofte
n m
en c
ould
not
get
foo
d en
ough
. T
he c
arib
ou w
ere
hunt
ed i
n
KN
UD
RA
SM
US
SE
N –
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RO
SS
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CT
IC A
ME
RIC
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117
the
ice,
whe
re t
he s
now
was
bei
ng la
shed
abo
ut in
wav
es b
y th
e w
ind,
he
said
: “In
orde
r to
hun
t wel
l and
live
hap
pily
, man
mus
t hav
e ca
lm w
eath
er.
Why
this
con
stan
t suc
cess
ion
of b
lizza
rds
and
all t
his
need
less
har
dshi
p fo
r m
en s
eeki
ng f
ood
for
them
selv
es a
nd t
hose
the
y ca
re f
or?
Why
? W
hy?”
We
had
com
e ou
t ju
st a
t th
e tim
e w
hen
the
men
wer
e re
turn
ing
from
th
eir
wat
chin
g at
the
blo
who
les
on t
he i
ce;
they
cam
e in
litt
le g
roup
s,
bow
ed fo
rwar
d, to
iling
alo
ng a
gain
st th
e w
ind,
whi
ch a
ctua
lly fo
rced
them
no
w a
nd a
gain
to s
top,
so
fierc
e w
ere
the
gust
s. N
ot o
ne o
f the
m h
ad a
sea
l in
tow
; the
ir w
hole
day
of
pain
ful e
ffor
t an
d en
dura
nce
had
been
in v
ain.
I co
uld
give
no
answ
er t
o A
ua’s
“Why
?,”
but
shoo
k m
y he
ad i
n si
lenc
e. H
e th
en l
ed m
e in
to K
ublo
’s ho
use,
whi
ch w
as c
lose
bes
ide
our
own.
The
sm
all
blub
ber
lam
p bu
rned
with
but
the
fai
ntes
t fla
me,
giv
ing
out
no h
eat
wha
teve
r; a
cou
ple
of c
hild
ren
crou
ched
, sh
iver
ing,
und
er a
sk
in r
ug o
n th
e be
nch.
Aua
loo
ked
at m
e ag
ain,
and
sai
d: “
Why
sho
uld
it be
col
d an
d co
mfo
rtle
ss i
n he
re?
Kub
lo h
as b
een
out
hunt
ing
all
day,
and
if
he h
ad
got
a se
al,
as h
e de
serv
ed,
his
wife
wou
ld n
ow b
e si
ttin
g la
ughi
ng b
esid
e he
r la
mp,
let
ting
it bu
rn f
ull,
with
out
fear
of
havi
ng n
o bl
ubbe
r le
ft f
or
tom
orro
w. T
he p
lace
wou
ld b
e w
arm
and
bri
ght a
nd c
heer
ful.
The
chi
ldre
n w
ould
com
e ou
t fr
om u
nder
the
ir r
ugs
and
enjo
y lif
e.W
hy s
houl
d it
not
be s
o? W
hy?”
I m
ade
no a
nsw
er, a
nd h
e le
d m
e ou
t of
the
hou
se, i
n to
a li
ttle
sno
w
hut
whe
re h
is s
iste
r N
atse
q liv
ed a
ll by
her
self
beca
use
she
was
ill.
She
lo
oked
thi
n an
d w
orn,
and
was
not
eve
n in
tere
sted
in
our
com
ing.
For
se
vera
l day
s sh
e ha
d su
ffer
ed fr
om a
mal
igna
nt c
ough
that
see
med
to c
ome
from
far
dow
n in
the
lung
s, a
nd it
look
ed a
s if
she
had
not
long
to
live.
A th
ird
time
Aua
look
ed a
t me
and
said
: “W
hy m
ust p
eopl
e be
ill a
nd
suff
er p
ain?
We
are
all a
frai
d of
illn
ess.
Her
e is
thi
s ol
d si
ster
of
min
e; a
s fa
r as
any
one
can
see,
she
has
don
e no
evi
l; sh
e ha
s liv
ed t
hrou
gh a
long
lif
e an
d gi
ven
birt
h to
hea
lthy
child
ren,
and
now
she
mus
t suf
fer
befo
re h
er
days
end
. Why
? W
hy?”IS
UM
A I
NU
IT S
TU
DIE
S R
EA
DE
R
116
A b
ear b
reak
ing
into
a te
nt a
nd a
ttack
ing
a ch
ild
b
y Ta
parte
I m
ust
live
all m
y da
ys a
-vis
iting
G
row
old
as
a w
oman
a-v
isiti
ng,
And
nev
er d
are
to g
o ho
me.
”“S
o th
e w
oman
per
ishe
d be
caus
e sh
e ha
d do
ne w
hat w
as fo
rbid
den
at th
e sa
cred
pla
ces.
The
pow
erfu
l sou
ls o
f th
e ca
ribo
u ha
d ki
lled
her.”
By t
he m
iddl
e of
Jan
uary
, I h
ad t
he e
thno
grap
hica
l col
lect
ions
in s
hape
so
that
I co
uld
leav
e D
anis
h Is
land
for
good
. But
we
still
nee
ded
a fe
w it
ems.
I w
ante
d a
few
mor
e sk
in d
ress
es to
rou
nd o
ut th
e co
llect
ion,
and
I w
ishe
d to
mak
e a
final
stu
dy o
f th
e sp
iritu
al b
elie
fs o
f th
e Es
kim
os o
f th
e re
gion
. A
ccor
ding
ly, I
set
off
for
the
hun
ting
cam
p at
the
mou
th o
f Ly
on I
nlet
, to
visi
t m
y ol
d fr
iend
Aua
. A
ua’s
hunt
ing
cam
p la
y m
idw
ay o
ut in
Lyo
n In
let;
I rea
ched
it la
te o
ne
afte
rnoo
n, ju
st a
s th
e se
ttin
g su
n w
as g
ildin
g th
e do
mes
of
the
snow
hut
s.It
was
kno
wn
that
I w
as o
n th
e w
ay, a
nd a
bove
eac
h hu
t wav
ed a
litt
le
whi
te f
lag
– a
sign
tha
t th
e in
mat
es h
ad r
elin
quis
hed
thei
r ol
d he
athe
n fa
ith a
nd b
ecom
e C
hris
tians
. A
s I
drov
e up
, m
en,
wom
en a
nd c
hild
ren
troo
ped
out a
nd fo
rmed
up
in li
ne o
utsi
de A
ua’s
hut,
and
as s
oon
as I
had
rein
ed in
my
team
, the
who
le p
arty
beg
an s
ingi
ng a
hym
n. T
he tu
ne w
as s
o un
like
wha
t th
ey w
ere
accu
stom
ed t
o in
the
ir o
wn
paga
n ch
ants
tha
t th
ey
bung
led
it a
little
, bu
t th
ere
was
no
mis
taki
ng t
he e
arne
stne
ss a
nd p
ious
KN
UD
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RO
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ME
RIC
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119
kaya
ks a
t th
e cr
ossi
ng o
f ri
vers
and
lake
s, b
eing
dri
ven
out
into
the
wat
er
whe
re t
hey
coul
d be
eas
ily o
vert
aken
in a
kay
ak. B
ut it
was
har
d to
mak
e th
em r
un t
he w
ay o
ne w
ishe
d, a
nd t
here
fore
rul
es w
ere
very
str
ict
abou
t th
ose
plac
es.
No
wom
an w
as a
llow
ed t
o w
ork
ther
e, n
o bo
ne o
f an
y an
imal
mig
ht b
e br
oken
, no
brai
n or
mar
row
eat
en. T
o do
so
wou
ld b
e an
in
sult
to t
he s
ouls
of
the
cari
bou,
and
was
pun
ishe
d by
dea
th o
r di
sast
er.
The
re is
an
old
stor
y, a
nd a
true
one
, sho
win
g th
e da
nger
that
lurk
s in
the
soul
s of
ani
mal
s fo
r us
hum
an b
eing
s, a
nd it
is: ‘
The
wom
an w
ho h
as b
een
swal
low
ed u
p by
the
ear
th f
or h
avin
g of
fend
ed t
he s
ouls
of
the
beas
ts.’
“Onc
e so
me
wom
en w
ere
left
alo
ne a
t a
spot
whe
re t
he c
arib
ou w
ere
accu
stom
ed to
sw
im a
cros
s a
rive
r. T
he w
omen
wer
e to
wai
t the
re fo
r th
eir
husb
ands
, w
ho w
ere
away
hun
ting.
But
the
men
wer
e aw
ay a
lon
g tim
e,
and
the
wom
en h
ad n
ot fo
od e
noug
h, a
nd b
eing
nea
r st
arva
tion,
gat
here
d to
geth
er b
ones
of a
nim
als
that
had
bee
n ki
lled
ther
e so
me
time
befo
re, a
nd
to s
ave
thei
r liv
es, b
oile
d fa
t fro
m th
e bo
nes
and
ate
it. T
hus
they
man
aged
to
sav
e th
emse
lves
fro
m d
ying
of
hung
er,
but
in d
oing
so
diso
beye
d th
e st
rict
rul
e th
at f
orbi
ds a
ny b
reak
ing
of b
ones
at
the
ford
s.“A
t la
st,
afte
r a
long
tim
e, t
heir
men
cam
e ho
me
from
the
hun
ting.
an
d so
me
had
foun
d ga
me
and
othe
rs n
one.
One
of
the
men
who
had
go
t no
thin
g to
ld h
is w
ife s
he h
ad b
ette
r go
aw
ay t
o he
r el
der
brot
her.
His
co
mra
des t
ried
to p
ersu
ade
her t
o st
ay, s
ayin
g th
ey w
ould
will
ingl
y fe
ed h
er
now
tha
t th
ey h
ad m
eat
enou
gh, b
ut s
he d
id a
s he
r hu
sban
d ha
d sa
id a
nd
wen
t off
to h
er b
roth
er. S
he r
each
ed th
e pl
ace
whe
re h
e w
as a
nd li
ved
with
hi
m. O
ne d
ay h
er b
roth
er’s
wife
ask
ed h
er t
o ca
rry
thei
r lit
tle c
hild
in t
he
amau
ti, a
s sh
e he
rsel
f w
ante
d to
mak
e a
pair
of
kam
iks
for
her
husb
and.
T
he w
oman
wen
t ou
t w
ith h
er b
roth
er’s
child
, an
d sa
t do
wn
in a
sm
all
gully
not
far
fro
m t
he h
ouse
. And
whi
le s
he w
as t
here
, the
ear
th s
udde
nly
clos
ed o
ver
her
and
she
coul
d no
t get
out
. Lat
er in
the
day,
the
wom
an a
nd
child
wer
e m
isse
d, a
nd w
hen
som
e w
ent o
ut to
sear
ch fo
r. th
em, i
t was
seen
th
at t
he e
arth
had
clo
sed
over
the
m, a
nd t
he c
hild
cou
ld b
e he
ard
cryi
ng,
and
the
wom
an s
ingi
ng:
“Litt
le o
ne, d
o no
t cr
y, M
othe
r w
ill c
ome
and
fetc
h yo
u W
hen
she
has
finis
hed
her
sew
ing.
I
am a
frai
d of
my
husb
and,
A
nd d
are
not
go h
ome,
I
wou
ld g
ladl
y go
hom
e to
the
tw
o br
othe
rs
Who
wis
hed
me
to s
tay;
I
am a
frai
d of
my
husb
and
And
dar
e no
t go
hom
e.
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
118
The
Dan
ish m
embe
rs o
f the
Fift
h Th
ule
Expe
ditio
nKa
j Birk
et-S
mith
Th
erke
l Mat
hias
sen
Hel
ge B
angs
ted
Pede
r Ped
erse
n
K
nud
Rasm
usse
n
P
eter
Fre
uche
n
Jaco
b O
lsen
forw
ard
to w
ith a
nxie
ty li
tera
lly e
qual
to th
at w
ith w
hich
hun
gry
folk
look
fo
rwar
d to
a m
eal.
The
men
had
litt
le r
est
thes
e da
ys. I
t is
a w
eary
bus
ines
s to
be
out
for
ten
hour
s at
a s
tret
ch, f
irst
sea
rchi
ng a
bout
to
find
the
blow
hole
of
a se
al,
and
havi
ng fo
und
it, to
sta
nd m
otio
nles
s in
the
driv
ing
snow
wai
ting
for
the
seal
to
com
e up
to
brea
the.
A s
eal h
as a
lway
s a
num
ber
of b
low
hole
s op
en
at o
nce,
and
it m
ight
oft
en b
e ho
urs
befo
re it
app
eare
d at
the
one
act
ually
un
der
obse
rvat
ion.
No
won
der
then
, tha
t the
hun
ters
wer
e st
iff a
nd s
ore
by
the
time
they
ret
urne
d. T
hrow
ing
off
all b
ut t
heir
inne
rmos
t cl
othi
ng, t
hey
thre
w t
hem
selv
es d
own
on t
he b
ench
in
the
war
mth
of
the
hut,
whi
le t
he
wom
en b
usie
d th
emse
lves
cut
ting
up th
e ca
rcas
ses
into
juic
y re
d fil
lets
edg
ed
with
ric
h ye
llow
ish
blub
ber.
The
n, w
hen
the
pots
beg
an t
o bo
il, c
ame
the
rew
ard
of th
e da
y’s
toil,
in th
e sh
ape
of a
ste
amin
g cu
p of
thic
k bl
ood-
soup
. T
he n
ext
cour
se w
as m
eat,
spea
red
up f
rom
the
cau
ldro
n on
lon
g bo
ne
skew
ers,
and
dum
ped
dow
n up
on a
woo
den
tray
enr
iche
d w
ith t
he j
uice
s of
man
y a
form
er m
eal.
A s
ense
of
war
mth
and
com
fort
spr
ead
and
grew
, th
e lit
tle tr
ium
phs
or d
isap
poin
tmen
ts o
f the
day
wer
e re
coun
ted
with
goo
d hu
mor
; m
ater
ial
wan
ts w
ere
satis
fied
for
the
time
bein
g, a
nd p
eace
and
pl
enty
rei
gned
.T
hese
eve
ning
s, w
hen
we
lay
stre
tche
d at
eas
e af
ter
a he
arty
mea
l, an
d th
e m
ost t
acitu
rn h
ad th
awed
into
som
e de
gree
of g
enia
lity,
wer
e th
e tim
es
I m
ost
look
ed f
orw
ard
to f
or c
onve
rse
with
my
host
s.In
the
col
lect
ing
of f
olk
lore
, on
e is
alto
geth
er d
epen
dent
upo
n th
e ch
arac
ter
and
tem
per
of o
ne’s
sour
ces;
it
is e
ssen
tial
to h
ave
nativ
e au
thor
ities
not
onl
y qu
alifi
ed in
reg
ard
to k
now
ledg
e of
the
ir s
ubje
ct b
ut
also
gift
ed w
ith t
he r
ight
app
reci
atio
n of
it
them
selv
es.
The
y m
ust
be
relia
ble,
so
that
one
can
lis
ten
with
out
criti
cisi
ng a
ll th
e tim
e, a
nd o
ne
shou
ld i
f po
ssib
le b
e on
fri
endl
y te
rms
with
the
m t
hrou
ghou
t. A
ua a
nd
his
wife
Oru
lo e
min
ently
ful
fille
d th
ese
cond
ition
s; w
e w
ere
exce
llent
fr
iend
s, a
nd t
he t
wo
old
folk
, poo
ling
the
expe
rien
ce a
nd le
arni
ng o
f th
eir
resp
ectiv
e liv
es, c
ombi
ned
to fu
rnis
h a
min
e of
info
rmat
ion.
Wha
t one
did
KN
UD
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US
SE
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RO
SS
AR
CT
IC A
ME
RIC
A
121
feel
ing
whi
ch
insp
ired
it.
T
here
was
som
ethi
ng v
ery
touc
hing
in s
uch
a gr
eetin
g;
thes
e po
or f
olk
had
plai
nly
foun
d in
the
new
fai
th a
re
fuge
tha
t m
eant
a g
reat
de
al in
thei
r liv
es.
Whe
n it
was
ove
r, th
ey
step
ped
forw
ard
one
by
one
and
shoo
k ha
nds.
And
he
re I
cou
ld n
ot b
ut r
ecal
l m
y fir
st m
eetin
g w
ith t
hese
sa
me
peop
le
a ye
ar
ago,
at
C
ape
Eliz
abet
h.
The
n,
they
had
com
e le
apin
g an
d ca
peri
ng r
ound
me
in a
n ou
tbur
st
of
unre
stra
ined
na
tura
l fee
ling;
now
, all
was
ce
rem
onia
l an
d so
lem
n to
an
alm
ost
pain
ful
degr
ee.
It w
as n
ot l
ong,
how
ever
, be
fore
this
wor
e of
f, an
d th
e ol
d ea
sy m
erri
men
t sho
wed
fo
rth
agai
n. T
he c
arca
ss o
f a
seal
was
bro
ught
out
and
th
row
n to
th
e do
gs,
and
whi
le t
hey
wer
e bu
sy w
ith it
, I w
as r
egal
ed w
ith t
he la
test
new
s. T
hen
my
sled
ge w
as h
oist
ed u
p on
to a
sta
nd b
uilt
of b
lock
s of
sno
w,
and
I m
ysel
f in
vite
d in
door
s to
thaw
. Aua
’s w
ife, O
rulo
, goo
d fr
iend
ly so
ul, h
ad a
fine
big
bo
wl o
f ste
amin
g ho
t tea
for
me,
and
whe
n th
is h
ad d
rive
n ou
t som
e of
the
cold
I co
uld
sett
le d
own
at e
ase
amon
g m
y ol
d fr
iend
s.It
was
the
mos
t di
ffic
ult
time
of t
he y
ear
just
now
; the
sto
res
of m
eat
accu
mul
ated
dur
ing
sum
mer
had
bee
n us
ed u
p, a
nd i
t w
as a
que
stio
n of
pr
ocur
ing
fres
h su
pplie
s fo
r m
en a
nd d
ogs,
fro
m d
ay t
o da
y. S
eal
wer
e hu
nted
now
eith
er a
t th
e br
eath
ing
hole
s or
in t
he o
pen
wat
er b
eyon
d th
e ed
ge o
f th
e ic
e. T
he w
eath
er w
as r
ough
and
sto
rmy,
sno
w f
allin
g ev
ery
day,
and
the
the
rmom
eter
rar
ely
abov
e m
inus
50º
C. T
he d
ays
wer
e sh
ort,
and
in o
rder
to m
ake
the
mos
t of t
hem
, the
hun
ters
set
off
bef
ore
dayl
ight
an
d re
turn
ed a
fter
dar
k. A
ll m
eat
brou
ght
in w
as c
ut u
p an
d di
stri
bute
d at
onc
e th
roug
hout
the
cam
p, a
nd a
s th
ere
was
gen
eral
ly n
o m
ore
than
w
ould
suf
fice
for
one
day,
the
arr
ival
of
the
next
ins
tallm
ent
was
loo
ked
ISU
MA
IN
UIT
ST
UD
IES
RE
AD
ER
120
The
wom
en g
oing
ove
r to
the
team
that
won
the
arch
ery
cont
est
(Det
ail f
rom
the
qulu
mer
tut g
ames
)
by P
akak
