Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk - Sanaaq - An Inuit Novel

kallaqutismall berry bush, bearberry ( Arctostaphylos alpina )

kanajuitsee kanajuq

kanajuq, pl. kanajuitmarine fish, a kind of sculpin

kanivautit, pl. of kanivautidiaphragm of mammals

kappianartuvikhereafter for those who have broken the rules. Hell of Christianity (literally “the big scary place”)

kaugaliaq, pl. kaugaliatcone-shaped mollusc, a kind of limpet or barnacle

kiasiit, pl. of kiasikmammal shoulder blade, with the meat

kiataq, pl. kiatatdorsal portion of skin on the upper trunk, here a bearded seal

kiatatsee kiataq

kiinaujaitsee kiinaujaq

kiinaujaq, pl. kiinaujaitcoin, literally “which resembles a face”

kiliutaqscraper made from a caribou shoulder blade, used by women

killapatpl. of killaapaqripe catkin of an Arctic willow. From killak— “teeth on a saw, rasp, or file”

kilufar end of a home’s interior, at the end of the sleeping platform

kinguq, pl. kinguitscuds ( Gammarus ), a kind of amphipod

kuanniq, pl. kuanniitalgae Alaria

kujapigait, pl. of kujapigaqthoracic vertebrae of ringed seals and small mammals, and humans. More broadly, the flesh surrounding these vertebrae

kujapigaqsee kujapigait

kujapiitsee kujapik

kujapik, pl. kujapiitthoracic vertebrae of bearded seals and large marine mammals

kunikstem of the verb kuninniq: smell, sniff, or kiss in the Inuit or Oriental fashion

kuu kuu kuuonomatopoeia: clams falling onto a plate

kuutsinaat, pl. of kuutsinaaqhip bones of seals

kuutsiniit, pl. of kuutsiniqlumbar vertebrae of mammals

kuutsiit, pl. of kuutsiqhomonym of next word. Berry bush resembling a bearberry

Kuutsiqdog’s name, literally “hipbone”

kuutsitualiklittle bone, figurine of a hipless person

Lumaajuitsee Lumaajuq

Lumaajuq, pl. Lumaajuit“the one who says ‘Lumaaq’!”, old woman of the above legend

lumaartalikbeluga attached by a leather line to an old woman called Lumaajuq (“the one who says ‘Lumaaq’!”), according to an Inuit legend

Maa maa maa!onomatopoeia: dogs whimpering in pain

Maatiusiperson’s name, Matthew

Makutsialutjuaqperson’s name, old woman of a legend

mamaittuqutit,pl. of mamaittuqutiplant, Labrador tea

mamifatty tissue under the skin

mangittaqskin blanket spread on the ground for laying food on. Often a piece from skins that once covered a qajaq

manuneck of the hood of a garment, piece under the chin

matsait, pl. of matsakspleen

mattaqedible skin of the beluga

mirsutaqouter stitching of a boot’s waterproof double seam

misiraqrancid oil of marine mammals in which one steeps meat

Mmm!onomatopoeia: cooing of affection when one kisses a child, to make it happy

Muu muu muu! Miuu!onomatopoeia: dogs howling

nanualuka big polar bear. From “Nanuq” — polar bear ( Thalarctos maritimes )

nanuirvikpad of bear fur used to dampen runners with water

naqitarvikleather strap, with fastening straps, that runs along the outside of a sled’s runners

nasivvikpoint of land that serves as a lookout, often with a stone cairn

natsinguaqlittle bone, figurine of a seal

natsiq, dl. natsiikringed seal

niaquit, pl. of niaquqhead of seals, humans, and small mammals

niaquujait, pl. of niaquujaqbun made by the Whites, literally “which resembles a skull”

nikku, pl. nikkuitdried meat

nikut-tuasisee aakut-tuasi

Ningiukulukperson’s name, literally “little old woman”

ningiurqaluksaltwater fish, a kind of sculpin not eaten by the Inuit

nipisaqsea snail ( Liparis ), literally “which is sticky”

nuakulukkinship term used by a woman for her sister’s child

Nuilaqdog’s name, literally “fur trimming of a hood”; because the dog’s fur makes a good hood trimming

nuliarsaqinvisible female lover, succubus

nutilliqfish, brook trout

nuvvitimain sled tugline, which is slipped through the loops of the lines running from each dog harness. Also: sinew braiding, on which fish are strung by their gills.

paannguaqlittle bone, figurine of an entrance

Palungattakdog’s name, literally “which has short drooping ears”

pamialluit, pl. of pamiallukseal’s tail

paugusiq, pl. paugusiitwooden pole stuck into the snow wall of the igloo and supported by a vertical post. It serves as a support for the drying rack. From it hangs the cooking pot, over the oil lamp

paurngaqutit,pl. of paurngaqutiblack crowberry

pavviit, pl. of pavvikanklebone

Pikiuliqplace name; given to places where various migratory bird species nest in early summer, and where the Inuit go to gather eggs; often islands

puiji, pl. puijiitmarine animal whose head appears at the water’s surface

puijiitsee puiji

puttajiaqseriously wounded or dead marine mammal, whose body is floating on the water’s surface

puurtaqbag of meat made from a sealskin turned inside out or from a beluga stomach

puvait, pl. of puvaklung

Qaa!onomatopoeia: snoring

qainnguqice ledge along the shoreline at high tide mark

qajaaksee qajaq

qajaq, pl. qajait, dl. qajaakkayak

qajuuttalutuqlittle bone, figurine of a drinking mug

Qalinguperson’s name

qaliruat, pl. qaliruaqboot made of sealskin that has had its fur removed

qalliniqpart of a boot, covering the top of the foot and sewn to the sole

Qalliutuqperson’s name, literally “the one who is winning a fight”

Qallunaaq, pl. Qallunaat, dl. QallunaakWhite man, literally “big eyebrows”

qalluviaqsee qalluviat

qalluviat, pl. of qalluviaqarch of the aorta in the heart of marine mammals