Sanaaq (3 page)

Irsutualuk and his son Angutikallaaluk were going fishing for
iqaluppik
in the river. The time was ideal because the char were swimming upstream to the lakes. They set out on their way, intending to camp overnight by the river and taking a dog as a pack animal. As they left, the father said, “If there are any
iqaluppik,
we won't be back tomorrow. We'll try to fill several stone caches.”

They began walking. The son led their dog, Taqulik, on a leash. After a while they stopped to rest. The father heard something like a willow ptarmigan: “
Irrr!
...”

“Listen!” whispered the father. “A ptarmigan is calling from up there!”

“Where?”

“Up there!”

“I'll go look… Listen to it calling! There it is, up there! I'm going to shoot... Missed! It flew off.”

“Let's go! Time to get on our way again.”

They came to the river and set their net. One of them waded across and the other stayed on the bank. They stretched the net from one bank to the other but there was not the slightest sign of any Arctic char.

“Looks like there aren't any,” said Irsutualuk. “Let's make sure by throwing some blubber into the water upstream. The wind is making the surface quite dark.”

“Don't seem to be any around!” concluded Angutikallaaluk. “Just to be sure,
ai!
,
I'll pitch some stones into the water and see if I can flush any of them out... Now I'm sure! None at all... I really feel like heading back. So what if we go home the same day... They probably haven't got this far upstream.”

His father agreed. “Let's head off! Time to go home! But first let's make a cache and stash away our provisions. We'll be coming by here later.”

They both headed back to their camp. As they walked, the father began thinking, “I'd really like to have Sanaaq as a wife, even though I'm a bit old…”

They soon arrived back at the camp. There were others: Sanaaq's family, Irsutualuk's family, and the family of Ningiukuluk, who was Sanaaq's relative.

We are now back with Qumaq and her mother. Their sleep had again been disturbed, this time by several visitors. Sanaaq lived with Arnatuinnaq, her younger sister. All three had been outside for some time when they saw the men come back from fishing for
iqaluppik.
Sanaaq shouted, “Look, they're back from fishing for
iqaluppik.
They probably caught some!”

Hearing this, Qumaq asked, “Mother, those men out there, what have they been doing?”

“They've been fishing for Arctic char!”

Qumaq
went back to her games, saying, “I'll draw something! I'll draw little dog teams, Mommy!”

“Daughter,” said her mother, “come and I'll wash your dress, because the water I put in to heat is almost boiling. I'll give it a good wash... Sister, get busy. Tomorrow you'll be sewing some
sulluniit.
So start cutting some seal skin to make them!”

She poured the water she had been heating and began her wash.

“
Aa!
Aaah!
I scalded myself!
Aa! Aatataa!
I must have a burn. My hand's throbbing with pain. Qumaq!
Daughter! Cool this water down a bit, so I can wash your filthy dress... Now I've got it clean. But where's my shirt? I'd like to wash it too while I'm at it.”

“It's up there,” replied Arnatuinnaq, “in the
kilu.
”

“Go get it if you see it! I really feel like some tea but it takes too long to prepare. I'll make some when I'm done washing this. Here we go, time to wring it dry...
Uuppaa!
” She was squeezing hard. “It's probably not as dry as I'd like.”

“Mother,” said Qumaq. “I'm hungry!
Apaapa!
”

“I hear you. Fetch my ulu! It's in the
aki.
.. You're going to eat some
nikku.
”

She cut off a chunk of
nikku.

“There you are! Dip it in the
misiraq.
.. Be careful not to spill any down the front of your shirt.”

“I won't!” replied Qumaq.

“And sit down!” added her mother.

Just then Ningiukuluk walked in.

“
Ai!
Ningiukuluk
ai!
” exclaimed Sanaaq.

Her daughter cried out, “
Anaanatsiaq
ai!
Look! I'm eating some
apaapait.
”

“
Iii!
There's oil running down all over her hands,” said Ningiukuluk indignantly. “Sanaaq! Lick them clean and give her only solid food to eat! I'll get you eating right, little girl!”

“I'm done. I don't want any more!” said Qumaq.

“Clean your hands with this willow ptarmigan skin,” said her mother.

Qumaq responded by wailing, “No!
Ii Iiii! Ia-a!
”

She was afraid, the poor little girl, of this big feathery thing she had been given for a hand towel. Her mother added, “Well then, I'll clean your hands with this piece of a coal bag. No feathers on it. Otherwise you won't clean your hands properly... Ningiukuluk! You and I let's play cards while the tea heats over the oil lamp! We'll then melt some blubber over the lamp... Sister! Get the pieces of blubber we're going to melt. Pound the oil out of them, there, in the little bowl. Let's go! Ningiukuluk, let's play cards. You're dealing! We'll each put five matches into the pot. Is it my turn to throw away a card?”

“Yes!”

“I beat you!
Iii!
” She burst into laughter. “It's mine!”

“Let's call it a night. I've got to go home!” said Ningiukuluk.

Qumaq called out, “Come to me, Mother, I'm sleepy!”

“Go lie down on the sleeping platform. I'll put you to sleep. Take your boots off!”

The little girl was soon asleep. It was evening and time for Sanaaq to fetch some water. She took a dipper with her. When she got to the nearest stretch of water, she began filling the dipper.

“It's full of insects! There are even diving beetles... I'll draw my water elsewhere, preferably from a pool higher up.”

She began filling her dipper again. When it was full, she noticed some clouds and thought, “That big one is a rain cloud. Even dark enough to be a storm cloud.”

She walked back. When she got home, she said, “Looks like we're going to have thunder. The clouds are really dark now.”

“
Ai!
” said her younger sister. “If it thunders overnight, it's going to be all the more scary... I wish there were more of us!”

They tried to fall asleep, everyone except Arnatuinnaq. She remained fully dressed and stretched out on the bed, for fear of thunder. It did thunder during the night and loud claps rocked the air.

“It's thundering something awful!” cried out Arnatuinnaq, awaking her older sister.

The rain became a downpour, so much so that a steady stream of water dripped through the tent lining.

Everyone awoke at daybreak. Arnatuinnaq
said to her niece, “Qumaq! Let's go fishing, the two of us, on the foreshore. Tomorrow we'll be moving to Ujararjuaq for good. Let's go fishing on the foreshore here one last time!
Ai!
Qumaq! It'd be a good thing to bring along a digging tool, in case we come across any
ammuumajuit.
”

Sanaaq spoke up. “Daughter, take this little pail to put them in. Sister, you can dig with a
kiliutaq.
”

“Let's go! Let's go to the foreshore!” said Arnatuinnaq
.

They began walking. Qumaq
shouted, “Auntie! Wait for me! Give me your hand!”

When they came to the foreshore, the aunt said to her niece, “Qumaq! This pool is probably full of
kanajuit.
It has a lot of stones that can be lifted up. Let's have a look! I'll start with this one!” She lifted it. “Yes, look! A sculpin! It's slipping out from under. There it goes... I'll catch it!”

“Auntie, did you catch a sculpin?”

“Yes, I caught one, but there goes another. It's sliding underneath the big stone. Wait a bit
ai!
I'll force it out with a stick. Watch to see if it swims that way!”

“Yes, the water's swarming with all kinds of
uquuqu!
I'm going to catch a big
uquuqu!
”

“Get a good grip on it with your hand! There's nothing to be afraid of!”

“Oh! It got away!”

Many swam away from Arnatuinnaq but she still caught quite a few. Inside the pail, the captured sculpins were flipping their tails and thumping against each other. The two had stopped looking for sculpins and were now in search of clams.

“It's full of clams! Their holes are everywhere,” said Arnatuinnaq. “I'll dig this one up. It's just under the mud. Over there is another clam squirting water. I'll dig it up...” After a while she spoke again. “We've gathered a lot of clams and it's time to go home. The water's rising now. I'm done filling my pail, let's go! We're going home!”

“Sure!”

They headed home. Arnatuinnaq exclaimed, “Look at all the
kaugaliat,
Qumaq! Let's eat some limpets!”

“Yes!”

“I've got a stone to break them open...
Uu
!
I just love sucking the innards out of a clam!
Uu!
Are they ever good! What a great taste! Look, the water's really rising now. Let's go home. Your mother's minding the tent all by herself.”

So they went home. After all, they had to move the next day. When they arrived, Qumaq's mother was overcome by affection for her daughter. “Daughter!
U! Aalummi!
Come to me, my little one! Did you learn all the tricks of fishing on the foreshore?
Aalummi!
Have some tea, both of you... I have some ready for you. Let's eat clams! Pass me a plate. I'll put them on...”

Kuu kuu kuu!
One by one the clams clunked down onto the plate.

“Let's also get a container for the juice dripping out of them and another for the empty shells,” added Sanaaq. “Daughter! I'll crack your clams open and you'll collect the juice. That's how you're going to eat them. Do as I say... Take this one. Enough! I don't want any more!”

“Me neither!” chimed in Arnatuinnaq, followed by Qumaq.

Sanaaq
said to her sister, “Put these aside. As for the empty shells, toss them onto the rubbish heap!”

No sooner had Arnatuinnaq
taken them out than the dogs came bounding after her, yelping, “
Muu muu muu!
”

They began to yap and fight amongst themselves. It was too much for poor Arnatuinnaq. “
Uai!
Look at all those dogs! Scram, you filthy creatures! If only I had something to throw at them!”

She went back in. Night was falling.

“The water has stopped rising!” she announced.

“
Ai
!
” said her older sister. “We'll probably be moving tomorrow to our camp mates' place over on the other side of the bay. We'll take our stuff there on our backs.”

Then they undressed for bed, for night had fallen, and went to sleep.

Day broke and Sanaaq was already awake. She called out, “It's high time that both of you got up. We're well into the morning! We'll start getting things ready right away. Have some tea. It's going to be a long trip.”

Her sister had been shaken out of a sound sleep.

“You said it! I really don't feel like getting up. Eating those clams has left me feeling hot all over.”

She was now wide awake and starting to put her clothes on. Sanaaq spoke again. “Daughter! Get dressed. Time to get going!”

They got everything ready. Sanaaq and her sister stuffed their things into a big bag while chattering away. Arnatuinnaq said, “I'll put the tent on my back, a dog will carry the tent poles, and I'll take my bedspread as well.”

“Since we're ready, let's go! Let's get walking!” said Qumaq.

Arnatuinnaq was less sure. “Hold on! We're not at all done getting things ready! Take this stuff out. The mats can be left in a cache.”

Sanaaq
added, “We'll come back for them today, the two of us. Come on, let's take the tent down!”

“Sure!” replied Arnatuinnaq. “Which way should it fall?”

“To the left!”

Little Qumaq sang softly beside them, as they made their preparations.

“
Lalaa lalaa lalaa!
”

“
Uai!
” shrieked Arnatuinnaq. “Those dirty dogs are wolfing down our food, bunch of good-for-nothings! They're helping themselves to the provisions we stored in the
aki.
Throw some stones at them!”

A stone struck one of the dogs in its paw. It ran off yelping, “
Maa maa maa!
”

“I got that no-good Ukiliriaq. I pitched a stone right in its paw and it can't stand on it anymore. Those dirty animals are now fighting amongst themselves!”

“
Maa maa maa
!
” The dogs were leaping back and forth as they fought over the provisions from the
aki.

Sanaaq shouted, “Daughter, stay out of harm's way! Come here!”

Qumaq was growing into a young girl who increasingly knew the ways of the world. She spoke up. “Mother! The two of us can go ahead. Auntie can follow with the rest of the stuff.”

“Yes, let's go! Let's get walking, the two of us...
Hau hau!
Kajualuk!
Hau!
”

She was calling for her packdog. Mother and daughter set out on their way, up a slope. Soon Arnatuinnaq left too. Although they were taking a shortcut, the route proved to be long and tiring. Qumaq cried out to her mother, “Mother! Let's stop awhile. I'm very tired.”

“No need to stop now. We're almost right where we're going to pitch our tent. Aren't we almost there? Yes, we are! This nice stretch of gravel seems to be a good spot for a tent!”

They pitched their tent. They had arrived at the Ujararjuaq campsite and its inhabitants came out to welcome them. Among them were Aqiarulaaq
,
the wife, and Taqriasuk, her husband, with their grown son, Jiimialuk.

“
Ai!
Sanaaq
ai!
” said Aqiarulaaq. “Let's shake hands! So you made it safe and sound?”

“Yes! We got here early because we had to leave some of our stuff behind at the other campsite.”

“
Ai! Suvakkualuk!
But don't you have anyone to help you?
Ai
!
Let's shake hands! But who is this girl?”

“It's Qumaq, my daughter... And here comes my sister. You can see her over there, in the distance.”

“
A ii!
Is she ever loaded down! Come, have an arrival meal with us.”

“Sure, let's go. We're very hungry. We didn't have any tea on the way because we thought it would take too long.”

So they ate together while telling each other about the latest happenings.

Aqiarulaaq recounted: “My son killed a seal today, right in front of our place... He simply wounded it, so his father went after the animal in an old, broken-down
qajaq.
He harpooned it, only to discover it was a skinny little seal, a little
siiqrulik
that had lost its mother.”

It was now Sanaaq's turn to talk. “
Ai!
Am I ever lucky! Irsutualuk
has fallen in love with me. As soon as I found out, we moved away. I don't want him. He really looks old and I won't settle for just any wretched man who comes along.”

“
Ai!
Qatannguuk ai!
” said Aqiarulaaq. “I'll fix you up with my brother in no time at all. You need a man to help you out. Not right now, of course. First, get your tent up!”

“Yes, let's pitch our tent! We'll get some stones to anchor the bottom, then we'll raise it!”

“Yes. We're here to help!” exclaimed Aqiarulaaq.

Qumaq held one of the tent poles upright. They attached the guy ropes and anchored the base of the tent with stones. Scarcely had they finished raising the tent when they saw old Irsutualuk coming. He called out, “
Ai!
Sanaaq
ai!
I've been following you, trying to catch up. I'll no longer take no for an answer. You're going to be mine!”

“
Suvakkualuk!
But I don't want you... You're getting very old... You don't even have your front teeth anymore... And we got no help from you today, when we could have used it. You also won't be my husband because I'm afraid my daughter will be abused. As long as it's in my power, no one but me will lay a hand on her. You'll not be my husband because you're very old. Old men don't please me at all. Don't stay here! Go away!”

“What a shame! Being old is disgusting to you! I'm ready to do anything to have you. I'm going to undress and sleep here. I have no intention at all of laying my hands on Qumaq.”

“You're really very old!
Aaq!
You smell old! Get out and stay out! I don't want an old man's smell rubbing off on me!”

So he went off, completely disheartened, and Sanaaq made her feelings even clearer. “The man I'll choose to be my husband isn't an old man. He's even a handsome man. He is Qalingu, the brother of my
qatanngut.
”

As planned, the marriage proposal was made while Sanaaq was being visited by her new camp mates.

Qalingu walked in.

“I wish to stay here and have you for my wife, but I'm afraid you'll be taken by another.”

Sanaaq accepted. “Good thing I didn't accept the proposal from that old man!”

Everyone now undressed again for bed. As usual, her daughter began to sing, “
Ali ali ali taka taka a!
”

The new stepfather did not intimidate her at all, for Qalingu was very likeable. They all crawled into bed and drifted off to sleep right away.