A Gift of Words Inuit Elders to Inuit Youth 2 A Gift of Words Inuit Elders to Inuit Youth A Gift of Words We are so grateful to the Elders who were willing to travel and come together with open minds and hearts for a week with us at the Base Camp. Thank you to Shelagh Rogers, Judy Rowell, and Gary Baikie for bringing life to this project in the Torngats, and to the KSP staff for their enthusiasm throughout the process. Thanks also to Parks Canada for funding this publication, as well as NGC-Nunatsiavut Solutions and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Program of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador for supporting Elder travel. Many thanks to the Torngat Mountains National Park Co-operative Management Board for the Inuktitut versions of this book.

cover: Mural concept by Jean Claude Roy. Painting by the youth. photos: Wendy Morton, Mandy Arnold, Geoff Goodyear, Julia St-Aubin, and Minnie Molly Snowball. Copyright © 2014 graphic design: Rhonda Ganz, reganz.com Printed in Canada by Rhino Print Solutions very summer, the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station in northern Labrador transforms into a Eunique gathering place where youth, Elders, scientists, tourists, artists, political leaders, and musicians come to learn, and share together in the spectacular Arctic wilderness and Inuit homelands of the Torngat Mountains. But this summer, we experienced something quite different—our first dance with poetry—and boy, did we dance!

From the opposite corner of the country, Wendy Morton landed in the Torngats and magically unveiled rhythm and grace in the writing of youth participants in the kANGIDLUASUk Student Program (KSP), a three-week learning and leadership field program for Nunavik and Nunatsiavut youth. Through poetry, these youth now share and pass on regional history and life stories of Elders from Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Nunavut.

Through laughter, tears, music, and time on the land, this amazing experience strengthened intergenerational connections, and fostered in the young people a deeper sense of cultural pride, resilience, and confidence.

I am truly grateful to have been part of this experience. There are so many more stories to be shared and heard, so Wendy… I do hope we dance again!

Mandy Arnold Executive Director and Program Coordinator kANGIDLUASUk Student Program, Nain, Nunatsiavut, Labrador 2 | a gift of words My Elder Augusta Onalik-Erving of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Labrador I grew up in a big house My childhood was good. with pots, pans, cups, plates, guns and snowshoes. I was always happy. I’d go down to the beach, play with beautiful rocks. Six families lived in that house. My mom would make me homemade dolls, My parents and I had a room to ourselves, made out of rags. the others had an open space. I was happy with that. As a young child, my happiest memory was Christmas Eve. My mother always gave me a pair of seal skin boots. It was my birthday.

Echo Henoche at gif of words | 3 My Elder topaik Augusta Onalik-Erving nikkuk pitsik of Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, Labrador sivalik. I was born in Tikigatsukuluk, constantly moving. I lived in a big house with my grandparents, We lived beside a beach. surrounded by pots and pans, My grandparents made me balls made out of grass. guns They were sewn with a rag. snowshoes The balls were used to play Inuk baseball too. cups And I was still happy. plates When I was nine years old, I went to Northwest River Hospital. along with my three half-brothers and their wives. I went to school in Northwest River The foods we ate were and I learned to speak English. seal meat When I went back home in 1960, caribou meat my mother picked me up. partridges She said we had to move. I asked her why.

4 | a gift of words She just said we had to go to Hopedale. In Hopedale, I didn’t know anybody my age. I was just 12 years old, starting school there. I learned to read and write from the missionaries. I finished school in grade 4, got a job in a clinic as an interpreter. I remember these sayings: respect the Elders, help them, listen to them.

Minnie Molly Snowball 6 | a gift of words My Elder John Jararuse The most important thing an Elder taught me, of Nain, Nunatsiavut, Labrador is to know where you are. You get to know the things the Elders teach you. I was born in Siloppait. Our family did what our relatives did before. When I was growing up I hunted seals, a lot of seals. The Inuit hunt geese, partridges. I went to school in Hebron. In the winter, we hunt caribou and fox Our church was our school. School was hard. and other animals to survive. We got to learn mostly from the Bible. The teachers were very strict. I had three brothers, four sisters. There were husky dogs around the house. My family—two brothers, two cousins There were mice, there were butterflies. and my dad—all died from food poisoning. We used to move to Hebron and other places. I was seven years old. This was in 1954. In summer, we used to gather. I remember once, hunters coming out of Nain. We ate mostly panitsiat (bannock). They were starving. Three died, the others survived. We used to go to Hebron to celebrate Christmas and Easter. This was living in the North. Food was stored in the food cache.

Willie Suarak at gif of words | 7 8 | a gift of words My Elder John Jararuse of Nain, Nunatsiavut, Labrador We hunted to survive. We travelled to Hebron and other places. The most important thing an Elder taught me, “If you don’t listen, you don’t learn at all.” We played Inuit games with the family and other people. We had to be in good physical condition. We travelled by dog team. My happiest memories: growing up in the Hebron area, travelling with my family in the summer.

Tod d Merkuratsuk at gif of words | 9 10 My Elder Sophie Jararuse Keelan of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec My parents were Benjamin and Emily Jararuse. They were poor, it was a hard life. They were relocated to another community. In our house we had a stove, kettles and homemade beds. My father built the house. One room for seven people. We ate traditional food: rabbit, walrus meat, seaweed, caribou, fish. We wore seal skin, caribou skin. My family.

William Keelan at gif of words | 11 My Elder Sophie Jararuse Keelan of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec I was born in Saglek Bay on Sallikuluk (Rose Island). Some of my happiest memories are with him, I was raised by my mother and my father. on the land, with our dog team. We had a small house. I remember him telling me stories. There were three brothers, two sisters, two beds His stories live with me, always. and love. School was tough. We played baseball, I couldn’t speak English. collected stones, They made me learn it. made them into a family like dolls. We lost our culture, our community. Our bond was broken. My father was amazing. He took me hunting. He showed me how to look for eggs.

12 | a gift of words Ocean Lane at gif of words | 13 14 | a gift of words My Elder Lizzie Baron One of the games we played was to attach a rabbit head of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec to a rope and tie the rope to a stick. To score a point, we had to catch the head on the point of the stick. I grew up in tents, and igloos, which were made of blocks of ice. I don’t remember my childhood or going to school. I had 12 brothers and sisters. I remember learning English. We had to be told what to do, when to go to school, I didn’t have any jobs. I went berry picking. to be good and help others. The first food I caught was a fish. We weren’t allowed to do just anything. I was so proud. I don’t remember my happiest memory. We used a qulliq made of soapstone; to cook, But my saddest was when my parents were angry. for a lamp, and to keep warm. It was not fun. At family gatherings, we ate seal, caribou, fish, beluga and berries. In spring, we watched our igloos fall and melt. Then we lived in tents. My favourite food to eat We were raised in Kangirsuk. was mattak (beluga skin and blubber).

Tama Bennett and Willie Tuglavina at gif of words | 15 16 | a gift of words My Elder David Serkoak of Arviat, Nunavut I was born in northern Nueltin Lake My house in winter was an igloo. at the Nunavut-Manitoba border, My house in summer was a caribou skin tent. southwest of Hudson Bay. My group was called “Ahiarmiut.” My parents and sometimes my brothers and sisters My family dried caribou and freshwater fish. looked after me. We used every bit of caribou: the skin and the meat. In the 1950s our lifestyle was nomadic. My parents encouraged me when I was growing up. Sometimes we were hungry. They praised me. I was growing up in the old Inuit way. We were encouraged to learn skills through games. I learned a lot from my mother, hunting. I learned to help my mother and father. With her I got my first caribou. My mom used a qulliq, a soapstone cooker. She is the one who really advised me on how to be a man.

at gif of words | 17 I went to Federal Day School in Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove. I remember welfare day. It wasn’t a good experience. It was a chance for good food. I got strapped and wanted to go away from school. I didn’t like the name calling. I was a very poor learner. I was called poor and dumb. The only thing I liked was that there was a warm room, My family was called the lowest of the low. and snacks. I knew that wasn’t true, My first job was painting rocks but there was pain. around the government office. Then I worked at the whaling station. I remember being in camp, away from the community. I could walk around all I wanted, day or night. I remember I could go hunting with my father and go fishing every day.

18 | a gift of words Julia St-Aubin at gif of words | 19 My Elder I have three brothers, three sisters. Bobby Baron We didn’t have much: we had wood stoves, of Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec we had wood houses. I was born beside the mountains, by the trees, in a place called Koroc. Long ago, we used to gather during summertime. If we had a good hunt, we had good meals. My parents raised me. We would gather around with our neighbors. They told me to go to sleep early, We would give food to people who didn’t have much to eat. so we could wake up early. To preserve food, we would dry it. Nature didn’t wait for us. We had to follow the tides. When I was fourteen, I had to help my dad hunt. He wasn’t as able. We were told what to do, When school started, I couldn’t go. we were always helping.

20 | a gift of words At school, we didn’t have a good teacher. We couldn’t speak well in English. We had to eat at a certain time. My first job was to help make houses. I was soon a foreman and I have worked in many places. My best memory is going camping. I will never let go of that.

Julia St-Aubin at gif of words | 21 My Elder I teach Inuk kids how to carve. Derrick Pottle I even teach Kallunât (white people). I teach anybody. of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador I am proud of my culture. I have ingutait (grandchildren). I will always share it. I am teaching them our culture. I help them maintain our culture. There are always some people who extend what they have learned. My grandfather was white. I help people out. That does not make a difference. I am honoured to. I am who I am. I am Inuk. I have seven siblings. My brother committed suicide My children live away from home. after consuming a strong drug. I do not mind. He was one of the best hunters. They have their “Inuk-ness” in their hearts. He was a real Inuk.

22 | a gift of words Now he doesn’t know he is dead. We can’t do anything about it. When I looked my child in the eyes for the first time, I told myself, I am not going to let my child see me like this. I have been clean for 33 years now. Be good. Be clean. Most of all, don’t give up.

Julia St-Aubin at gif of words | 23 wrote poems for the youth I in the kANGIDLUASUk Student Program because I was with them on a tossing boat and the sun was shining, and I wanted to know who they were. I wrote poems for them when we sat around the table in the dining hall in the evening. I wrote poems for them because they had shining eyes, open hearts and wonderful names. And they gave me their gift of words.

W endy Morton

24 | a gift of words at gif of words | 25 26 | a gift of words Tama Bennett, 17 I was raised in Nain. About five years ago my mom stopped drinking and smoking. Next fall, I’m going to college in Goose Bay. I’m going to train in carpentry. I like to make things.

at gif of words | 27 Willie Suarak, 16 I grew up in Nain. My mom grew me up. Now my dad looks after me. He’s a carpenter. I want to be an Inuktitut teacher. I have trouble in school. But this year, I’m going to work hard. Graduate. Fly into my dreams.

28 | a gift of words at gif of words | 29 30 | a gift of words Willie Tuglavina, 16 I grew up in Kangiqsualujjuaq. I have three brothers, two sisters. I’m going to try to graduate. I understand Inuktitut better than English. I play the accordion. My friend taught me. I can play guitar, the harmonica. I can do this.

at gif of words | 31 Johnny Piercy, 16 I grew up in Hopedale. I remember going to a cabin with my family on an island. We would swim and fish and hunt. I liked this. I want to join the air force and be trained as a pilot. I’m good at gym and art. I’m going to fly.

32 Echo Henoche, 15 I grew up in Nain. As a kid, I wanted to find out what magic there was in the world. I do well in school, A’s and B’s. I want to be a cook. I can make cookies, muffins, cakes. I taught myself by watching my mom. I want to open a café in Nain. I can cook char, caribou meat, mussels and scallops. I’m going to save up my money. I’m going to do this. Minnie Molly Snowball, 19 KSP Junior Program Leader I grew up in Kangiqsualujjuaq. There are five of us. My dad works for the municipal office. We go camping a lot. In winter we go ice fishing. In spring we gather mussels. In summer we get seals. We would go to an island and race to get the geese eggs, the duck eggs and the down from the nests. We use this for parkas. I’m going to John Abbott College in Montreal this fall. Now, I have to make a map of my life. 34 | a gift of words at gif of words | 35 Julia St-Aubin, 17 I grew up in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nine hundred people there. We live in a government house like all the other houses. They all look unhappy. It’s dependence that brings this darkness alcohol abuse, drug abuse. I want to find my dreams: to be a nurse, or a psychiatrist. I want to inspire my people. I want them to find their own dreams, in their own light.

36 | a gift of words Ocean Lane, 19 I live in a little town on the Labrador coast, Makkovik. Three hundred and seventy-five people live there. I am Inuk. I feel this pride when I wake up in the morning. This is the land of all my ancestors. I’ve had dreams, where they come to me, tell me stories. My grandfather died. Then he came to me in a dream, said, “Go have your adventure.” I listened.

at gif of words | 37 38 | a gift of words Acknowledgments A Gift of Words: Inuit Elders to Inuit Youth is the tenth book in the Elder Project series. When Shelagh Rogers asked me if I might be available to go to one of the most spectacular places on the planet and work with Inuit youth and their Elders, I immediately said yes. Everyone who gathered at the camp in Torngat Mountains National Park came to learn something from the others. The Elders taught the youth drumming, throat singing, and how to prepare a seal skin. Stories were told, songs were sung, and poems were written. When the youth interviewed the Elders, there was a kind of magic in the room. And that magic continued throughout the week. Mandy Arnold made my work with the Inuit youth in the Student Program a delight, and allowed us to use her stunning photos. The help I received from Sarah Karpik and Dorothy Angnatok was invaluable. Thanks to Geoff Goodyear, for his photograph of the mural the youth created under the care of Jean Claude Roy, to Julia St-Aubin for her photo of Derrick Pottle, and to Rhonda Ganz, for her lovely design of the book. Thanks too, to Judy Rowell and Park staff for their marvelous support, and to Parks Canada, who believed that creating this Elder Project was a good idea.

at gif of words | 39 The wind danced a ballet with the tent. 40 Have I awakened to this morning’s beauty? —Ocean Lane