Introduction-E

Children’s Songs
Jeannie Shaimaiyuk
My theme is children’s songs. I have chosen this theme because I wanted to find
out if the elders knew how to sing any children’s songs or other songs. It is
important to me that we don’t forget traditional songs. It is important to other
people too, because until now people remembered traditional songs. Today they don’t
really have time to ask elders about the old times because they have something else to
do. In the old days they did not have any schools for their children. Children learned
from their parents by just listening to them when their parents sang.
I interviewed two elders about the children’s songs, Elisapee Ootoova from
Mittimatalik and Saullu Nakasuk from Pangniqtuuq. I interviewed Elisapee first, from
November 12 to November 15, 1996, and then Saullu from November 18 to November
21, 1996. I asked the elders if they knew how to sing children’s songs (aqausiit) or any
other songs. They both answered yes. I also asked them if their parents taught them how
to sing. Elisapee said that her mother used to teach her how to sing the songs. Saullu
said that she learned how to sing a song just by listening to it when someone was
singing. Elisapee said nowadays they don’t sing to their newborn babies anymore.
Elisapee said she used to sing to her children when they were a year old. Every time I
asked both of them questions regarding the songs, they both answered me very well.
Elisapee’s songs
During the first week of interviews, I asked Elisapee to sing some songs. Here are some
songs she sang. Elisapee said this song is a hymn from the Bible. It was so interesting
to hear it.
aggangit (His hands)
putusimalauqtut (had holes in them)
sanalauqtuq (He created)
tamaitarjuanik (everything)
tammarutta (when we do wrong)
nalligijara (I love Him)
ajurninnik (of my limits)
iqqaitinnga (remind me)
Essays – Children’s Songs 135