Introduction-E

Did some people get mauled by dogs?
Pauloosie: Ammaalik’s dogs mauled someone, when we used to live in Qikiqtan,
among the islands around Pangniqtuuq. It was a traditional camping place. He was
from Uummanarjuaq. I am from Qikiqtan. When we lived in Qikiqtan when I was a child,
Kiinainnaq’s child, who was no longer a toddler, was mauled by Ammaalik’s dogs.
Did he die?
Pauloosie: Yes. He was said to have lived for a short time after the attack. I was a child
then.
Myna: Was my father’s younger brother also mauled by dogs?
Saullu: Yes. He was mauled to death in Qipisa.
Were dogs that mauled someone not supposed to be destroyed right away?
Pauloosie: Yes. If they killed somebody they were supposed to be destroyed seven days
later. They were not supposed to be killed right away, because it was feared that they
would take revenge.
The one that was mauled would also die?
Pauloosie: Maybe that was the reason, or if the person had died in the attack the revenge
might have gone to somebody else in the family. This could have been the reason. I can’t
say for sure why people waited to destroy them. I’ve only heard about this.
If the person who was attacked died, the dog could not be destroyed
right away?
Pauloosie: No, it couldn’t be destroyed right away. I told you that I had three wives. The
middle one, who was older than me was the mother of James and the others. One of her
children was mauled by dogs, and died from the attack. These were not my dogs.
Your dogs never mauled anybody?
Pauloosie: No, they never mauled anybody. When they got too lively, dogs could be
dangerous. My dogs did that, but they never mauled anybody to death. They attacked
somebody who now lives here. The one who is my stepsister Malaija’s daughter.
May?
Pauloosie: May. It was May that got attacked by my dogs. She was bitten.
Life Stories – Pauloosie Angmarlik 119