Introduction-E

The needles were from your mother?
Saullu: Yes.
How did you get needles?
Saullu: We got needles from Uummanarjuaq. That was when Uummanarjuaq still had
people from Pangniqtuuq, before it became uninhabited. When the qallunaat left, the
people left. The people spread out. That is, they moved to other places when the place
became uninhabited. I remember when it was still inhabited. That is, I remember some
of these things.
Did they leave because they were told to leave?
Saullu: When Uummanarjuaq became uninhabited, they moved all over the place
where there were animals. There was a lot of wind because it was a sound.
Were you born while they were still whaling in Uummanarjuaq?
Saullu: I was born while there was still whaling, but I don’t recall anything about it even
though I was born while there was still whaling.
Have you ever been down south?
Saullu: I have never been down south.
You were only there in Uummanarjuaq. Is that where you grew up?
Saullu: I grew up in Qimmiqsuuq.
Who are your siblings?
Saullu: A lot of my siblings are dead. The only ones I know are my brother, and Taina
and Elaija and Aiga. Those are my remaining siblings.
How many siblings did you have?
Saullu: Three of them drowned, and two of them died through sickness.
Three drowned?
Saullu: Yes. Silasie, who was my youngest brother, drowned here. Two of my brothers
drowned shortly after Davidee and Jonah had been born.
68 Introduction to the Oral Traditions