Introduction-E

Why?
Paniaq: I was scared rather than proud because he caught a bear when it wasn’t bear
season. The RCMP came by right away. We were out camping. There were just three of
them, my wife, my son and little Qajaaq was one of them when they were approached
by a bear in the camp when we were out seal hunting. It was while we were away that
he caught his bear. I wasn’t too happy that he caught a bear when it wasn’t bear hunting
season, though I was glad he defended my wife and daughter. It was because it was not
bear-hunting season that I was scared for him.
Was the pelt taken away because he caught a bear out of hunting season?
Paniaq: It was taken away and he was paid $400 for it.
Did you get to keep the meat?
Paniaq: Yes, of course. The adults were really happy, so it wasn’t so scary anymore.
Did your children or you yourself have to give gifts to
what we call the midwife who was there when you were born?
Paniaq: No, we did not practice that. When he got paid for the skin, he bought things
for the elders who had named him certain names, though.
Do you recall any feasts or celebrations?
Paniaq: I recall Christmas feasts we had when I was a child. Some food would be saved
for this occasion, and there would be caribou meat with fat, which was eaten during
Christmas.
Do you recall times of hunger?
Paniaq: I cannot tell about times of hunger as we had a boat when I was a child and the
men would go walrus hunting. They would cache some of the food. I learnt they did
that so they could have dog food. Sometimes they would save the food. There were
times we ran out of food, but I do not recall that we suffered from hunger.
Were you told unikkaaqtuat?
Paniaq: Just any old story?
Can you tell us a story that you have heard?
Paniaq: Yes, are we also here for that?
52 Introduction to the Oral Traditions