Excerpt
from
People of the Good Land
by Alootook Ipellie
Voice of the Natives
from the Introduction
... The element of nature does not take kindly to the inhabitants of the Arctic, or to those who visit
and spend time in it. That is why it is respected by all human beings like a kindly, old grandfather--
for its gentleness, but mainly for its fury. Many have perished in it, some forgotten forever, since
there was no one around to acknowledge their deaths. Nature in the Arctic is like that, uncaring one
moment, then lavishing love with its many-splendoured beauty. No wonder it has a way of controlling
the behaviour and psychology of its inhabitants.
Over the centuries, the availability of different animal species spawned distinctive fashion apparel
crafted by some of history's best seamstresses. What can one say about the integrity of those who
designed the hunting tools of survival in an unrepenting land? We will not rest easy until recognition
is bestowed on those who invented tools and weapons designed to function in a precise way. Who among us
does not marvel at the intricate beauty and resourcefulness of an ulu, the woman's knife?
These are some of the qualities that make Inuit unique among cultures in this world. Even though
they live in one of the world's most inhospitable climates, their enduring characteristic is a people
warm of heart who are always ready to help anyone struggling with life. If the art of human relations
were to be measured among all people on the planet, Inuit would score high on a list of those who are
experts in caring for his fellow man. This is not surprising given the fact they have always relied on
one another to survive the unpredictable forces of nature....
from A Cultural Whiteout
... As an Inuk living in the Arctic, you can expect to get trapped in a whiteout several times each winter.
The cultural upheaval we experienced in our community in the late 1950s and early 1960s seemed in retrospect
a lot like being caught in a whiteout--trapped and unable to go forward since you could not see clearly
where you were heading. So, our society had to rely on another society to be the guide dog to our blind
culture. Some individuals were luckier than others, since they could use a cane to help them make some
progress--one step at a time. Those who did not have a cane to guide them soon lost themselves in a whirlpool
of no return. No new dawn gave evidence that things were going to turn around for the better even as the
Inuit culture screamed in agony. Who or what was going to save this infant in distress? In the end the
cultural white-out would not lift for many more years.
The transitional period from hunters and gatherers to community dwellers took some time to evolve. This was
the period that proved fatal for many Inuit, who, for various personal reasons, could not readily adjust.
For many families it was a time of uncertainty, as they diligently tried so to adopt a new lifestyle
and met only with failure. Many individuals became suspended in midstream, unable to go along with the flow
or to fight against it. The situation verged on social chaos.
The colonial social reformers--if they were not surprised by the turn of events--would deny full
responsibility for the socio-cultural unrest in the communities. Their "cure" for whatever was ailing
the Inuit was to put more money in. The powers-that-be had unwittingly opened a Pandora's box. So they
had to be grateful for living in a rich country that could afford to fork out millions of dollars each
fiscal year to try to put a lid back on the box. But all the money spent on the new social problems did
not guarantee easy solutions. And that has proved true to this very day....
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