Introduction-E

Qaumauq
Susan Enuaraq
The Inuit Studies students were instructed to choose a theme they were interested
in. We had elders who were scheduled to be in our classes to answer our
questions. The elders for the first week were Elisapee Ootoova, from Mittimatalik,
and Hervé Paniaq, from Iglulik. The elders for the second week were Pauloosie
Angmarlik, and Saullu Nakasuk, both from Pangniqtuuq. I chose to make Qaumauq
(my grandfather) my theme. I had a hunch that the elder from Iglulik might know about
him, as Qaumauq had been in that area. I knew that there were going to be elders from
Pangniqtuuq. I know, from my mother, that Qaumauq had been in the Pangniqtuuq area
for a while, so I thought that I would also be able to gather some information from those
elders. I was able to find out some information from both Elisapee and Paniaq. I was
also able to get some information from Pauloosie. Saullu, however, did not have much
to contribute as she had never lived in the same place as Qaumauq. I also got some
information from my brother, Appitaq Enuaraq. I got this information by telephone, as
he lives in Mittimatalik.
Qaumauq’s father was Uttuttiaq and his mother was Ittuutaaluk. Elisapee Ootoova
told me that Uttuttiaq was known to be a very good fisherman. He would live in areas
where fish were abundant, such as by a river near Mittimatalik. I am not able to say
anything about his mother as she was not discussed. Uttuttiaq’s mother was
Ataguarjugusiq. I was not able to find out the name of his father and I did not find out
the names of Ittuutaaluk’s parents.
Qaumauq had two siblings. Javagiaq was his brother and Niviattiat was his sister.
Paniaq and Elisapee said that Javagiaq was slightly disabled. He had problems with his
hip joints. Nonetheless, he was able to survive with the help of other people. My brother
thought that Javagiaq had had an adopted child who he thought was called
Qatigagjuaq. Paniaq said that Niviattiat was his “in-laws” mother. Paniaq said the word
saki (in-law), and that Inuktitut word does not clarify whether a person is male or
female. I hope that I will be able to clarify that later. Paniaq also suspected that the
family’s ancestral roots were in the Kivalliq Region. According to Appitaq, the family
was originally from the Naujaat area.
Qaumauq and his wife, Sivuga, as far as I could tell, had two children. Their son’s
name was Nunuji and they also had a daughter. Unfortunately, I was unable to find out
the daughter’s name, but I am told that she was Pittiulaq’s wife. When Paniaq was
talking about Qaumauq’s son, he usually referred to him as Nunuji. When Pauloosie
was talking about the same man he would refer to him as Palluq. I asked Pauloosie if
the Piunngittuq family from the Kangitugaapik area were Palluq’s descendants and he
guessed they might be. My brother clarified that Palluq was indeed the father of
146 Introduction to the Oral Traditions