Books of wisdom and knowledge for Qallunaat

Page 18

NASIVVIK

How on earth does one counter the terminal paternalism articulated in The Eskimo Book of Knowledge, published by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1931, and The Book of Wisdom for Eskimo, published by Canada's Department of Mines and Resources in 1947? What possible antidote can be administered for such an affliction, without stooping to the dense ignorance entwined with a rigid superiority complex, which saturates these writings?

Certainly not with toxic bitterness, or an eye for an eye! The best solution seems to be to reflect these writings on distortion mirrors, the kind found in southern amusement parks. I first search for a possible co-author and co-conspirator in this project, whose name rhymes with mine. I find John Ningark of Kuugaaruk, Nunavut, who is a former MLA for Nattilikmeot in the last N.W.T. legislature, which sat prior to Nunavut's formation.

Nungak-Ningark feels perfect on the tongue as a made to order counterweight to those Books of wisdom and knowledge. I would set out to write a Book of Wisdom for Qallunaat (white men), while John Ningark would work on The Qallunaat Book of Knowledge. Each of us would "borrow" the writing styles of the authors of those books, and simply apply our knowledge of Qallunaat into the written word.

I would write, "You are a White Man. In the Arctic, the Eskimos (now called Inuit) will call you a Qallunaaq, but will accept you saying Kabloona, or even Kodlunarn. Don't be shocked to hear their children calling you a Hello-raaluk, which means A Big Hello. Be thankful it's not a Big Goodbye!"

"You will be badged with an Inuktitut nickname, based on a physical characteristic or habit, which identifies you in their sight. Getting assigned a nickname is not at all scientific, so yours will likely come in an odd way. Ones assigned in the past include Qiuniujaq (One Who Is Forever Cold), and Patinnaaki (Small Buttocked One, or, in today's lingo, Weeny Buns)."

John Ningark would write, "Your ancestors came to Canada by sailing ship, some from England and some from France. You have been here for only 400 years, a very short time. On a time-line in history, you are recent arrivals. So don't carry on too much like you've always owned the place. The Inuit don't appreciate being treated like tenants in their ancient homelands."

"When you talk about distances with Inuit, do so in miles or kilometres, not in "sleeps". Train your tongue to pronounce the now Inuitized place names: The former Broughton Island is now Qikiq-TARQ-juaq, not Kikiktakjuak. Imagine a double H when you say IHHALUIT, thereby avoiding eKAA-lo-WHIT for Nunavut's capital city."

As co-authors of antidotes to Terminal Paternalism, John Ningark and I have to be truthfully insightful and reasonably accurate in reflecting and exposing some essences of the Qallunaat. They are the dominant society, and have identified themselves as "founders" of Canada. There is even a collectivity of old settlers in Quebec who proclaim themselves a "Distinct Society"!

For Inuit, this is sometimes difficult to reconcile. Against formidable odds, we still speak the language our ancestors spoke in 1534, when Jacques Cartier landed on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. We are the dominant majority in our immense Arctic homelands, but we have had to adjust to living within political structures where others are the bosses of how we live our lives.

John Ningark would write, "Inuit knowledge maintenance was based on oral traditions faithfully transmitted throughout the generations. As a Qallunaaq steeped in literary traditions, do not be too dismissive of Inuit contributions to English language dictionaries. In them, you can look up words like igloo, umiak, ulu, kayak, komatik, and muktuk; all Inuktitut words."

I would write, "Always eat your food, mostly devoid of all blood and freshness, sitting in a proper upright posture, with a fork and a dull knife known by the Inuit as nuvuittuq (without point). Stre your left-over food in secure containers in refrigeration and eat them in following days until they are gone. Never waste your food."

"If you are a guest at Uncle Milton's house, draw on your natural encyclopedic sources of small talk, and be animated while discussing the weather, Aunt Myrtle's hairdo, and the latest fads of the young people."

John Ningark would write, "Never say None-of-it for Nunavut. Give yourself some lead time to practice saying KINNG-ait for Cape Dorset, Ik-PIAR-juk for Arctic Bay, and Kangiq-SLI-niq for Rankin Inlet. Don't be shy to engage the help of an Inuk to pronounce such names properly. Take heart from the tribulations of Inuit having to say Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw, and Come By Chance properly."

In conclusion, "If you are given a nickname by the Inuit, wear it like the badge of honor it very likely is."