Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk - Sanaaq - An Inuit Novel

“Look!” said Taqriasuk. “Look at what we just got, I and Maatiusi! A simple piece of paper. What is it?”

“It’s money,” said the missionary. “If you take it to the merchant, you’ll be able to buy anything with it.”

“ Ai! ” said Taqriasuk.

Night was falling. The Inuit agent, using the missionary as an interpreter, asked, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Taqriasuk!”

“How old are you?”

“I have no idea!”

“You’re probably very old because you look quite elderly. You’ll regularly get money without having to work, because you’re old. You can spend your time doing nothing. You’ll buy what you want every month. You’ll get money for your children too, for anyone who isn’t sixteen yet. When they pass that age, the money stops. But for the old there won’t be any age limit.”

After this conversation, Taqriasuk went home and said, “I was told I’ll get money.”

“ Ai! ” said Aqiarulaaq. “That’s great!”

As for Sanaaq’s family, they would get a house next summer, a real house, she was told. That evening the Inuit agent paid a visit.

“ Ai! ” she said.

“Hello,” he replied, while lavishing much affection on her child. He then said to her, “Next summer a house will be built for you. In addition, starting tomorrow, you’ll get money for your children.”

Sanaaq was astounded to be promised so much when she had never been helped before. After the Qallunaaq went back to his place, Aqiarulaaq came to visit Sanaaq.

“Hi, qatannguuk! Tomorrow we’re going shopping! This has completely taken us by surprise, cousin! We were told that my old man would regularly get money at the end of every month.”

“Looks like our children too will be getting money!” said Sanaaq.

Qalingu, meanwhile, was working among the Qallunaat. He was made to do just about anything. At times he yearned to go home, because he missed his little boy and his wife. He had never been gone so long from home. Often, the thought even came to his mind that he would never be allowed to go back… At bedtime, he frequently could not fall asleep, for the thought haunted and bothered him.

Back home, those who had stayed behind were also feeling his absence. They had never been apart for so long and Sanaaq often found her little boy crying because he missed his father so much. The next day they went to the store. The Inuit agent was already there with the company clerks. Ningiukuluk also came in. She was very old and went about her purchases without knowing how much anything cost, for she had never paid attention to the prices of different items. She bought felt, flour, chewing tobacco, baking powder, and printed fabrics to make a dress for Akutsiak and a sweater for her younger sister, Tajarak. Sanaaq and Aqiarulaaq were also making their purchases. They bought a lot of things and wrapped the ones that would be hard to carry away. While Ningiukuluk was still in the store, Sanaaq and Aqiarulaaq went to look for a small sled.

“ Qatannguuk! We’ll haul away our purchases together. Give me a leather strap to pull with. Too bad we won’t have any more straps to tie down the load. I’ll hold it down while you pull!”

When they came back with the sled, they spoke to Ningiukuluk.

“We’ve just got back,” said Sanaaq. “It took us some time to get ready!”

“I’m not at all tired of waiting,” replied Ningiukuluk.

“We tried to be fast,” added Aqiarulaaq. “We were afraid you’d get cold!”

“I’m not cold. Just a little cold in my feet. My feet are giving me a headache!”

“You should get going,” said Sanaaq. “Walk all the way home!”

“I’m going. I’m tired of standing in one place!”

Qalingu was busy working but had trouble concentrating on his work, worried as he was about his family and thinking a great deal about them. “I don’t know what my family is doing or how my little boy is… They may be short of food and hungry… They must be missing me and thinking I’ll never come back… My wife’s probably trying all the time to console my little boy, who’s crying and unhappy… As for Qumaq and Arnatuinnaq, they’ll both be working non-stop, even during snowstorms… So when will I go home? Maybe next month?”

He was becoming increasingly despondent. He had been away for a long time and for two months now had not stopped working. Then came spring and the Qallunaat told him, “Qalingu! You’re going home next week.”

On hearing this, he was overcome with joy. He smiled all the time now and prepared for his departure. His pockets were full of kiinaujait because he had been working for a long while.

With spring coming and many water holes appearing on the lakes, thoughts in the Qalingu household turned to fishing. Aqiarulaaq went to visit Sanaaq.

“Cousin! I feel like going fishing with Maatiusi and Arnatuinnaq. Qumaq will also be coming!”

“We’ll go tomorrow ai! Great idea! We’ll leave tomorrow. I’ll prepare something to eat for the trip and make some bannock because it’s far from here… We’ll camp overnight and go by dogsled over the ice!”

Arnatuinnaq, Maatiusi, Qumaq, Aanikallak, and Akutsiaq went to see the Catholic missionary and the store employees.

“Tomorrow we’re going fishing,” said Arnatuinnaq to the missionary.

“I’ll go with you! It’ll be a great pleasure for me,” he replied.

They all went to see the chief factor at the trading post and Maatiusi told him, “Tomorrow we’re going fishing. I’d like some biscuits for the trip.”

“I’ll go with you, and I’ll take enough provisions.”

They left and returned to Sanaaq’s home.

“All of the Qallunaat will be going with us,” said Maatiusi.

Aqiarulaaq and Sanaaq were delighted. The next day, everyone prepared to go. They took along their fishhooks and provisions. Ningiukuluk and Taqriasuk remained behind at the camp because of their advanced age. The others travelled by dogsled over the wet snow. Maatiusi drove the dog team. When they reached their destination, they made tea for their ullugummitaaq. Arnatuinnaq went to draw water from a river.

“Isn’t this fun!” she exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Aqiarulaaq was building a fireplace. The chief factor remained seated in order to attach his fishhook properly. Maatiusi was baiting his with a piece of blubber.

“ Qatannguuk! ” said Sanaaq. “It’s coming to a boil. Time for our tea! Let the children have theirs first.”

When everyone had had their tea, they walked onto the lake ice.

“Isn’t this fun!” said Sanaaq. “Son, pay attention so you don’t fall through the ice. Qumaq! You too!”

The chief factor started fishing.

“There’s an iqaluk at the end of my line, Maatiusi!”

“Mine too. Look at the one I’ve caught!”

But the one the chief factor caught was much bigger.

“I just missed an iqaluk! ” said Sanaaq.

“I’ve got one too!” shouted Aqiarulaaq. “This is great!”

“The iqaluit won’t stop biting at my bait,” said the missionary. “Here we go! I just caught a very big iqaluk, a nutilliq! ”

“I haven’t seen the tiniest little iqaluk! ” said Arnatuinnaq. “Qumaq! Come and fish with my line for a moment while I go smoke a cigarette.”

“Look!” said Qumaq. “A big iqaluk! Yes! I just caught a very big iqaluk! ”

“I sure envy Qumaq for landing such a catch!” sighed Arnatuinnaq.

After Qumaq caught her iqaluk, she gutted it with a knife. Her mother and all the other anglers were very happy that Qumaq had got one. The missionary too had caught some Arctic char.