Introduction-E

Have you ever seen anyone who had a miscarriage?
Saullu: I have not seen anyone who was not able to get up after that, but they leave
Pangniqtuuq right away. From Pangniqtuuq they send the person out even though she
should not go. The nurses probably worry about her, but they are not in danger. I was
never in danger. Well, I was always able to walk. I did not have a problem.
What did they use before they had scissors to cut the cord?
Saullu: I heard that they used an ulu or a piece of broken glass. I’ve only heard of it. I
did not experience it myself and I have never used a piece of glass. I think they used to
sharpen the glass with stones.
When you were in labour, who was there with you?
Saullu: My younger sister, Taina, and my stepmother Aluki, I have had them behind me.
My husband and I were alone twice. I have had both my stepmothers with me, but not
at the same time. The first one was with me twice. She had two of my children as kisuliaq,
my second step-mother, Ittupasaat, she was alone with my husband and my sister who
sat as the tukirummiaq. This was in the spring while the others had gone out spring
camping.
Were you ever told that when a woman delivers [someone’s child],
she could be asked by others to bestow certain qualities on the baby?
Saullu: Yes, that is what we said. [It was done] by talking to the babies. They would say
this one will be a provider, a good hunter if it is a boy, or this one will have long hair, so
the child would have long hair, like my arnaliaq. I think we did that because our
ancestors did that, because we followed what they did.
If I were pregnant now, and if you were going to deliver my baby, would
people tell me, “This is what Saullu is going to say”?
Saullu: I don’t know. They only got the people that were available. They did not choose
who would be their midwives. But my younger sister did not want anyone besides me,
because I was the only one that was comfortable to her. That is what she told me. All her
children are my kisuliat. Another arnaliaq of mine, Ida is also here.
There were three that were at a delivery?
Saullu: One here by my knees, holding on to the box, one sitting here [demonstrating],
and one behind her. In a camp if there were only a few people, then only a few people
Life Stories – Saullu Nakasuk 77