Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk - Sanaaq - An Inuit Novel

That was Taqriasuk’s tale. Sanaaq exclaimed, “ Aa! So that’s it! The woman who became Lumaajuq is this dark-coloured form that appears at the surface behind a beluga!”

“I understand the story you’ve just told,” said Aqiarulaaq, “and it’s very nice to hear, just like Lumaajuq’s song!”

“Thank you!” said Qalingu. “We now know that she’s the one among the belugas!”

“I’m grateful to you,” added Arnatuinaaq. “It’s the first time I’ve heard about Lumaajuq and seen her! I’m glad to have heard Taqriasuk’s tale, which was passed down to him by our ancestors. I’m glad he’s still alive, despite his advanced age. He’s a very good grandfather, who knows much about all subjects!”

“That’s not what I think!” said Qalingu. “I’m not very glad. I wanted to capture another beluga, and it seems that these ones are not edible and could poison us!”

“It’s a lucky thing,” said Aqiarulaaq, “that the belugas didn’t arrive at night. Qalingu would’ve hunted them in the dark and he might have killed one, without being able to see properly. Had he done so, we’d all be dead now from having eaten one of them!”

“There are many Lumaajuit to be found among belugas,” said Sanaaq. “The one we just saw and heard has gone under water, but many other ones like it may still come here!”

“When I saw it,” said Arnatuinaaq, “I first thought it was something I had never seen before and then, because it was daylight, its dark colour reminded me a lot of an avataq, although it was in fact the old woman who had become Lumaajuq!”

“I heard that legend because I’m old,” said Taqriasuk. “She’s said to be easy to recognize because she’s pulled by a beluga… She was an Inuk, a very long time ago, and she’ll probably stay in that form until the end of the world… The line attached to her is bigger than the ones used by the Inuit, because over time it’s been covered with mattaq! ”

Qumaq watched and silently listened to everything while thinking, “I saw a Lumaajuq with my folks. One day soon I’ll try to draw or carve a likeness of it…”

All day long the belugas surfaced and frolicked at the same place, but Qalingu refrained from hunting them, for fear of dying. After all that Taqriasuk had recounted… The whole day, his thoughts turned over and over in his mind.

“Because of what Taqriasuk said, I haven’t killed a single beluga, although many were in view. All because Ningiukuluk and Taqriasuk, as elders, knew better about everything… Had we not listened to them, we’d probably all be dead by now… There have been belugas here the whole day and we could have easily killed some… I’m glad we’ve got elders among us. If none were around, we wouldn’t have been told and, along with all our camp mates, we’d have eaten some and probably be dead…”

Qalingu went to share his thoughts with Taqriasuk.

“Taqriasuk, thanks for your knowledge about what’s dangerous… Through you, I’ve learned that the meat of some belugas is fatal!”

“A long time ago, my grandfather taught me the dangers of life… To this very day, I’ve never forgotten what he taught me. But now that I myself am an old man, I must tell it to others… Because I’m getting too old, I’ll soon be unable to help you by telling you what I know, for I’ll not be around much longer. You must act wisely towards what’s dangerous and not dangerous on earth… It’s not just the belugas with Lumaajuq that may threaten your life. Ordinary belugas can also be a source of danger… In summer, when they are not skinned immediately and are exposed to the sun, their meat, if boiled, will smell strong and may be fatal. You must pay very close attention, even if it has no special taste or smell!”

“Thanks for all this knowledge,” replied Qalingu. “Keep on teaching the youngest among us about dangerous things! They must learn. I fully understand that an Inuk must know everything about food. Even though you’re old, your words are useful and will outlive you… Your teachings as an elder will continue to be passed on. Thank you, Taqriasuk!”

“It isn’t just the belugas with Luumajuq and those whose meat is rotten that are deadly or dangerous. There are also the very skinny ones, whose meat should not be consumed. Their meat too can cause death, even though, in appearance, it seems good to eat! The fact that these belugas are very skinny is a sign that they’re dangerous. When I kill such a beluga, even if I’m starving or if it’s the first time in my life I’ve killed one, I absolutely will not eat it!”

“I now understand why the meat of certain mammals isn’t edible. I’m glad you’re still alive because I didn’t know these rules. My father and my mother are dead and I no longer have anyone to give me advice on what I must and must not do. All I know is how to hunt, but without really knowing what’s dangerous… Tell me more of what you know to make me wiser… As you’re very old, if that tires you, I could also ask Ningiukuluk to teach me!”

“I’m not tired… It’s the only way I have to help you… The belugas aren’t the only ones to pose a mortal danger. Some other mammals are even more dangerous, others less so… I’m old now and I’ve already been made ill by some mammals. Among them are very skinny ringed seals, whose meat, like the beluga’s, must absolutely never be consumed when the animal is too skinny. If its skin is of good quality, you may use it after throwing the meat away, even though the meat isn’t rotten, because the skinniness may result from an illness. I don’t mean seals that normally are skinnier in spring. I don’t mean them but those that have almost no blubber, the ones that have a strong yellow colour… Those seals are the ones whose meat poses a mortal danger. There are also the ringed seals that, without being skinny and without having been wounded by bullets, have some sort of illness… Eating their meat is very dangerous. There are also the seals that have had serious injuries, either new or old ones, due to ice, that have bones or ribs broken by the ice… Those ones you can eat without danger, as well as those that have funny-looking pelts!”

“Taqriasuk! Thank you for explaining all these things. It’s reassuring to have elders.”

“It’s known that animals with only skin on their bones have parasites. As do very skinny birds. It isn’t just the Lumaajuit that are dangerous. Some other mammals, such as foxes, can be too.”

“Thank you! I won’t forget any of what you’ve told me and which I didn’t know before. I need to be taught. Those who aren’t elders are less knowledgeable than those who are. Without elders the Inuit are nothing, for there is much knowledge that the elders alone possess!”

“My knowledge comes not from me but from my ancestors. It seems to be mine but, in fact, it comes to me from people who preceded me. I pass it on to all of you, to all of your descendants and all of your kinfolk!”

A big boat appeared in the distance. Qumaq saw it first and said, “There’s a big boat!”

Sanaaq called out to her cousin, “Yes! Qatannguuk! Look at it! Have a good look!”

Qalingu ran to warn the Qallunaat at the trading post, telling them, “A big boat is arriving ai! ”

The Qallunaat went to unload the big boat, accompanied by Qalingu. Both Qallunaat and Inuit did the unloading. While they were on board, Qalingu noticed an iksigarjuaq. He looked like a very kind man. He seemed to find Qalingu friendly and spoke to him.

“ Ai! What’s your name?”

“My name is Qalingu.”