Introduction-E

What did you use for the bat?
Paniaq: Wood. All I’ve known to be used was wood.
Even though you were easily scared, you used to play amaruujaq?
Paniaq: That was when I was braver. It was only when I was smaller that I used to be
scared, so I never went outside alone, only with a companion. I used to go visiting and
when I couldn’t go home alone, I was taken home. When I was able to go home alone,
someone just watched from outside while I ran, saying, “Further, further.” That would
make me confident as I used to get scared. Even as I was entering I could still hear,
“Further, further.”
When do you remember seeing qallunaat, or do you remember the
first time you saw one?
Paniaq: I don’t recall the first time I saw one. When I was born, there were already
qallunaat around. I can remember the RCMP coming in from Mittimatalik, so they’ve
been around as long as I can remember. It’s not too long ago. But qallunaat were already
around when I was born.
How about airplanes?
Paniaq: When we were little children there was an airplane. By that time, there was a
Catholic mission and a trading post in Iglulik. Ukumaaluk was shot in the buttocks by
his son and he had to be flown out. At that time, we had an iglu at the point near Iglulik.
The airplane circled around our camp, constantly making noise. Then it landed near the
houses and the noise finally stopped. Only then I realized the sound stops when the
plane lands. The man who had been shot in his buttocks was flown to Igluligaarjuk, and
there wasn’t an airplane for a long time after that.
Which son shot him?
Paniaq: Nuvvijaq.
On purpose or accidentally?
Paniaq: Accidentally. What else?
Did you play a game called taqqiujaq?
Paniaq: I did not often join when they played taqqiujaq (acting like the moon) because
it’s kind of scary. We also played a game called uqsuutaaq. We’d play hide and seek, and
it used to be called iqqullirautit and ijiraaq.
Life Stories – Hervé Paniaq 49