Introduction-E

Would it be soft?
Saullu: Yes, that’s why we used heather for mattresses.
Was it caribou skin on top and heather on the bottom?
Saullu: Yes, the heather was the bottom one, with caribou on the top. The thicker the
better so it could soak up blood. Try to have thick caribou fur, so it can soak the blood
better. Try not to have a thin layer of caribou skin.
How did they know if it was a girl or a boy when someone was pregnant?
Saullu: The males are narrower in pregnancy (the shape of the belly). It’s obvious. The
females are wider. It’s easier to see after a few pregnancies. I used to know. The male
does not move too much; but when in labour, it takes longer to deliver if it’s a female.
When you were pregnant, did you used to help a hunter so your child
could be a great hunter?
Saullu: I have never seen or experienced anything like that.
When did you learn to deliver? When you were a young teenager
or an adult?
Saullu: Before I was an adult, I used to be present at births. I didn’t think I was learning
from them. That is how I learnt. But they did it differently from the way I do it.
Why did you learn how to deliver babies?
Saullu: Inuit do not live forever. We were the next generation. My mother used to
deliver babies. I used to follow her because she told me to.
Because you wanted to help?
Saullu: She wanted me as a helper. She wanted me to learn.
What did you prepare when you were delivering?
Pauloosie: I mentioned this earlier. I only helped once [when I was a child], because
there were no other people to help. I followed the words that were told to me about how
to deliver. If I had not heard about delivering babies, I would not have been able to help
because I wouldn’t have known how to do it. I was often requested to be there when
women were delivering, but I didn’t actually take part in it. Saullu talked about the
Life Stories – Saullu Nakasuk 73