Introduction-E

was born here in Iqaluit. They started looking for a home for her because her mother
was not going to take care of her, because she was not her mother’s husband’s child.
When we heard that they were looking for a home for her, we decided to take her, based
on the fact that she was itsimajaujuq (not treated very well). Therefore she is my other
adopted child. She is my adopted child. Very soon after she was born, even before her
umbilical cord had fallen off, a nurse brought her to us in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Did your wives die of illness?
Pauloosie: Yes, although they did not uggaqsuq- (suffer in pain). My first one, my dear
Aittainnaq, died because her lungs collapsed.
How about the other one?
Pauloosie: I’m not exactly sure, but probably from her lungs as well. Also the same with
the last one. Even though I wish there were more, this is the end.
You said you had been born at Qikiqtan. Did you grow up there as well?
Pauloosie: Yes, I spent part of my childhood there. The person after whom I am named
Ammaalik seemed to have two homes, at Qikiqtan and over here at a place called
Illungajut. Since he had two homes, both of these were places where I spent my
childhood. It was at Illungajut that I really grew up, where I became an adult, where I
learnt to hunt. That’s the way it was for me up there.
Do you recall if there was (bowhead) whaling taking place around
the time of your birth?
Pauloosie: Yes. Even though I was aware of it taking place, I did not participate in the
whale hunts because I was too young. There was one spring in which the person for
whom I am named Ammaalik allowed me to go along on a whale hunt. They didn’t
catch a whale, even though there were some whales then. He had me go along on hunts
all spring. It turned out that he was trying to get me to learn about whaling.
Was it at Qikiqtan that they used to hunt whales?
Pauloosie: Yes, it was at Qikiqtan that they used to hunt whales.
Did you say that you had been born at Qikiqtan after there were qallunaat?
Pauloosie: Yes. There is another event which I can talk about, because I recall it even
though I was still in the amauti. I remember still being in the amauti.
Life Stories – Pauloosie Angmarlik 97