Introduction-E

Stars used in Mittimatalik:
Akuttujuuk are two stars used in telling the return of the sun.
Aagjuuk are two stars, one bigger than the other, used by hunters to tell
them when it was time to go hunting in the morning. Children would be
asked to go out and see if they could spot them in the sky. When they
became visible it was time for the hunter to get ready to go hunting.
There is one particular star that was used by hunters when starting to
head home after having been at the floe edge. Starting out, they would
face it, and as they approached town, the star would be passing to the
side.
In Iglulik and Mittimatalik, other forms of telling direction are also used. We can use the
snow formations on the ground. Usually when the snow is forming, it is blowing from
one direction, and as we go, we try to follow the direction of the snow formations when
the stars are not visible. Uqalurat are long tongue shaped formations in an open area such
as on the sea ice, naannguat are rounded drifts on one side of a rock because the wind
blew from that direction. Uluannat are on the other side, formed into a small bank, which
some call talujaaq. These could be used for direction. At home we call them uluannat.
Seasonal celebrations
I asked about celebrations that were held during the course of the year. The only
description I got was about celebrating the sun, from Elisapee of Mittimatalik.
After a few months of total darkness a bit of light became visible on the horizon,
and everybody got so excited that all the qullit had to be blown out. Only some light was
kept hidden so that they could light the qullit again. They did this to celebrate the return
of the sun.
Seal pups and caribou
Since many of the moons referred to the birth and shedding of fur of seals and caribou,
I thought it was interesting to get the different names for seal pups and caribou calves.
These are the seal pup and caribou calf names as given by Pauloosie Angmarlik, from
Pangniqtuuq:
Essays – Moon, seasons, and stars 129