Introduction-E

Is that how it used to be back then?
Saullu: Yes, that’s how it used to be. I was not aware of bottle feeding before I had
adopted children. When I had two adopted children and I ran out of powdered milk, I
would feed them broth from the bottle.
Have you taught midwifery?
Saullu: While delivering a baby, I would train anyone who was present at the delivery.
I would tell them this is what they would do when I passed away. I have even given
advice on the portable camp radio. I did that too when Lypa was assisting in delivering
a child, through the radio.
When the baby was born, what was it wrapped in?
Saullu: They would be wrapped in qukturaut thigh-warmers. Their mother’s thighwarmers,
with the bottoms sewn. I have heard that some would be wrapped in rabbit
skin. I was told that rabbit skin would slow down the child, so I never used it. I never
used rabbit skin. Rabbit skins slows one down. Those who are slow are called pijjaitut.
Qukturaut?
Saullu: They were from our knees up. They were used at Ammalik, the thigh-warmers
that were made. They were worn with short pants. They were not part of the pants. They
were not attached to the shorts. Men have one piece pants.
One would not be cold without them?
Saullu: The ones made of cloth are not warm for the body. I grew up with good clothing.
I never had improper clothing. While I was growing up, my father was a successful
hunter, even using a qajaq to get a caribou, when the caribou had summer fur. I always
had a caribou parka. That’s how I grew up, never wearing worn out clothing. My
mother would make them. If she hadn’t made them, I know I wouldn’t have proper
clothing. My old clothing used to go to orphans who had no parents. Qiluja and
Miluqtittuq, who were from here, were always grateful to me, to the day they died, that
they got my second hand clothing. I would also feed them, when they had nothing to
eat as orphans. I wasn’t an orphan. Both my parents were alive.
The Qiluja who died?
Saullu: Yes, and Miluqtittuq who used to live here. She used to live here in Iqaluit.
86 Introduction to the Oral Traditions