Introduction-E

Who didn’t want him to have a store any more?
Pauloosie: The government; that is what they said.
Where were you living then?
Pauloosie: I can see it in my mind. It was not far from Pangniqtuuq. We called it
Illungajut, that was what it was called, Illungajut. In English it was called Bon Accord.
I didn’t understand something about the dead.
Were they buried right away?
Saullu: Some were buried outside where their body was covered with rocks.
Even after there were churches?
Saullu: Yes, for us out in the outpost camps. For others no, because they were not living
in the outpost camps. Only those for whom cover or wrap was available, were covered.
Sometimes wood from floors and walls would be used, that is how I remember it. The
ones for whom there was no material for a coffin were buried on the ground and
covered with rocks. The body would be wrapped in caribou skin tied around the body.
This is all I know.
Did they bury it just anywhere?
Saullu: Yes.
The rocks were gathered?
Saullu: They fetched the rocks.
Pauloosie: The bodies weren’t buried in line beside each other. They were buried where
it was convenient.
Saullu: Where rocks were loose and available. In winter, if someone died, a place would
be chosen where rocks were easier to get at and the cover-rocks would be flat large
rocks, not easily-crumbling pieces, and placed like that.
Did the graves also have to face the day?
Saullu: Only facing north, the graves had to face the north. I’ve told this to people in
Pangniqtuuq, because the graves are not facing north. They should be facing toward
where we will rise. This has always been said; this is what I know.
Pauloosie: Yes, like that.
112 Introduction to the Oral Traditions