POST-WAR CHANGES The Eskimo Identification Tag System The federal government’s notion of a “modern” state included a need to keep track of the people. Between IN THE ARCTIC 1941 and 1978, the federal government implemented the Eskimo Identification Tag System and assigned each Inuk a four-digit number. The system was designed to help Qallunaat (non-Inuit) record the names of Inuit after World War II Inuit living in settlement areas and to facilitate Inuit had long lived as an egalitarian the distribution of family allowances and other people, moving from place to place in governmental programs and services. In this way, it small hunting groups. Though they brought Inuit more closely under federal government continued to do so after adapting to control. the fur trade, the federal government believed Inuit would be better off living in permanent settlements and began a policy of relocation. Inuit communities were established near trading posts, military bases, and weather stations. Figure 4 This photo of Juunaisi (also known The sedentary lifestyle made Inuit more as Eunice Arreak) was taken in August 1945 at vulnerable to changes in the global fur Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik/Tununiq), Nunavut. market, and when the fur trade collapsed, Her identification number was used in all official documentation. How was the use they could not earn sufficient income to of these identification numbers similar to purchase goods. In addition, caribou—a and different from the current use of Social source of traditional food for Inuit—was Insurance Numbers? Figure 2 These photos are from Inuk photographer Barry scarce. As a result, many Inuit suffered Pottle’s Awareness Series. Originally, the identification tag food insecurity, starvation, and death. system used only numbers. In the mid-1940s, the government issued every Inuk a small burgundy disk containing a letter and Every Eskimo once a number. Tag numbers started with a W or an E (Western or committed his or her Changing Relationships Eastern Arctic), followed by a number for the region (for example, E-number to memory. I Inuit families were not accustomed to E8 for the Ungava Bay region and E9 for the Hudson Bay region). know many who still use their Ujamiit living together for long periods of time, How were the tags symbols of Inuit loss of identity? numbers as a PIN for charge cards, and social tension increased among a house number, or a label for their belongings. community members. The heads DRAFT SAMPLEFor a time I was Peter E3-546].… When I lived of some clans saw their leadership with Enneck or Erneck or E3-546, I never felt Figure 5 This comment was made by disputed. Some families used non-Inuit very proud of any of them].… But when I Zebedee Nungak, E9-1956. Compare this forms of governance such as municipal changed it my way to “Irniq,” it was as though, I have comment with Piita Irniq’s comment. What councils to exert control over others in Figure 1 This CBC ad finally retained my own ownership to my name. I have may account for the differences? appeared in Maclean’s taken back my culture and my language. food insecurity their communities. Social classes began magazine in November 1961. the lack of sufficient to appear where egalitarianism had been How does the message of this and healthy food due Figure 3 This comment was made by Piita Irniq, who was ad differ from the actions of the way of life. to accessibility or an artist, public servant, and commissioner of Nunavut from the Canadian government affordability issues 2000 to 2005. toward the Inuit at the time? 54 Canadian History Since World War I NEL NEL Post-War Changes in the Arctic 55 Inuit Sled Dogs Relocation to the High Arctic Inuit Relocation to the High Arctic, 1951–1955 Canadian and Québec government officials also used In the early 1950s, the Canadian their authority to regulate qimmiit (sled dogs), which government announced plans to GREENLAND ARCTIC Inuit relied upon to hunt. Officials ordered Inuit to tie relocate some Inuit from regions in the OCEAN Grise Fiord Craig Harbour up their qimmiit. They believed that qimmiit looted south to new settlements in the High Qausuittuq Baffin Bay (Resolute Bay) food, transmitted diseases, and attacked humans. They Arctic. The explanation the government Mittimatalik (Pond Inlet) feared stray qimmiit were more dangerous than wolves gave for the relocation was that the D av is S because qimmiit were not afraid of humans. Despite High Arctic contained plenty of game t ra it Figure 6 Inuit used qimmiit for transportation. the order, many qimmiit continued to roam free. for Inuit to hunt and trap, while wildlife They also used qimmiit for hunting because Between 1957 and 1975, RCMP and other settlement resources around southern settlements NUNAVUT NORTHWEST they could follow the scent and tracks of prey, authorities enforced their order and shot many were scarce. This was not the case. The TERRITORIES find the aglus (seal’s breathing hole), and guide qimmiit, allegedly as many as 20 000. High Arctic ecosystem was entirely N hunters home during a snowstorm. During different than what the Inuit knew and W periods of starvation, Inuit would eat qimmiit E and use their fur for warmth. they suffered terribly there. Critics of Hudson Bay The Inquest QUÉBEC 0 360 km S Inukjuak In 2000, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) and the the plan believe the government tried Makivik Corporation of Nunavik requested that the to assert its sovereignty by populating Figure 12 Federal officials moved several Inuit Half of my Inuit identity was Canadian government launch a public inquest into the regions of the High Arctic with Inuit families from the community of Inukjuak (Port taken away. killing of qimmiit. In 2006, the RCMP released a report families. Harrison), in northern Québec, to the unpopulated — Mattiusi Iyaituk islands of Ellesmere and Cornwallis. At the stating that there was no evidence of a systematic, time, Inukjuak’s population was about 500. The organized sled-dog slaughter by the government. The community had a nursing station, a school, an qimmiit were destroyed because they were starving, I remember very vividly about being HBC trading store, a weather and radio station, transferred to another ship at Pond Inlet, to a police post, and church missions. Why would I had to adopt another way diseased, or dangerous to the community. an icebreaker and getting on that ship and Inuit have faced challenges moving from Inukjuak of life. to the High Arctic? How would having Inuit then being told that our group was being divided into families living in the High Arctic show Canadian — Paulusi Padlayat two groups. At that point, everybody panicked sort of, sovereignty more than the presence of weather Several dog owners and their families were left because they had been told that they would not be without means of sustenance … On numerous stations and military bases and personnel? separated. History 10 Ontario Indigenous Enhance occasions I asked the owners and their children if 0176886753 It was so silent in the the federal or provincial authorities had offered Figure 10 This statement was made by John Amagoalik in FN sdl05-f01-nh10onesb CHECK IN community. some help following the slaughtering of their 2011. His family was relocated to Resolute Bay in 1953, when he 1. Cause and Consequence — Naalak Nappaaluk dogs. Each time they gave a negative answer. was five years old. HeCO lived there for 19Crowle years. Amagoalik Art Group was instrumental in the creation of Nunavut. What were the consequences of the post-war changes in the Arctic? Figure 7 These comments were made by Inuit Pass 1st pass What may have been intended Figure 8 This excerptDRAFT is from a report by Judge Jean-Jacques SAMPLE who appeared in the 2005 documentary, Echo Approved and unintended consequences of Croteau, “Regarding the Allegations Concerning the Slaughter of It was awful. They had to learn to get ready of the Last Howl. How do these comments show Not Approved government policies? the consequences of the government’s policy Inuit Sled Dogs in Nunavik (1950–1970),” released in 2010. for the dark season ... the older generation, toward qimmiit? were used to having lots of different kinds of 2. Communicate birds and then shore creatures like clams and Do online research to learn about oysters. There were none here. Figure 9 This statement was made by The Québec government recognizes that the long-term consequences for Inuit former Québec premier Jean Charest on Inuit society has been affected by the sled families who were moved to the High August 8, 2011. Charest pledged $3 million dog slaughter. We hope that this agreement Figure 11 This quote by Larry Audlaluk appeared in a CBC Arctic. Look for photos, quotations, to help Inuit protect and promote their signed today demonstrates the desire of article published in July 2017. Audlaluk was two years old when audio recordings, and videos. Create a culture. Why is it important for Inuit that the Québec to work hand in hand with the Inuit. he and his family moved 2000 kilometres north, from Inukjuak to short presentation for your class. government recognized the sled-dog slaughter? Grise Fiord. 56 Canadian History Since World War I NEL NEL Post-War Changes in the Arctic 57 Teacher's Resource Sample Lesson ASSESSMENT: Use No Hands to hear individual students’ POST-WAR CHANGES IN thoughts in response to the questions and to assess their under- standing of the concepts. Encourage other questions to flow natu- THE ARCTIC rally out of the conversation so that students who are unclear have Student Resource pp.