Speeches by Theresie
The Inuit
©
Theresie Tungilik
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Speech given at Canadian Center for Management Development,
Ottawa Ontario. August 1997.
I would like to take this opportunity to open eyes on who we are, where
we come from, what we are like and where we are heading.
In my parents and grandparents generation, their main goal
was to survive. They could only survive by constant communication
and cooperation. These skills were taught to us at an early age,
so it too ensured that we would survive in our harsh and merciless
environment.
As Inuit were nomadic people, different responsibilities fell among
family members. The man of the igloo was expected to come home with
the food to feed the whole family as well as maintain his dog team,
make household and hunting tools. He was also responsible for
teaching his skills to his sons.
The woman of the igloo was responsible for making the clothing for all
family members and for the social well being of the whole household.
She was also in charge of teaching her daughters the same duties she
had.
The animals within our environment provided us with food, clothing and
shelter. Even the snow played and important role in our lives.
All parents roles of teaching were by doing and through oral tradition,
the teaching of good behavior and basically for you to be a good person.
It was believed that in order to be treated with respect, you too had
to treat everyone with respect.
You were taught to respect your elders and your parents the most.
Their survival against our different and difficult climate proved
that they had conquered many hardships in order for us to be alive
today. It was they, who taught us the survival skills.
The Inuit had gone without any professional medical assistance,
but that did not mean people were not cured of their illnesses.
Among a chosen few, we had shamans. Shamans who not only performed
evil deeds, as suspected by the arrivals of the missionaries.
Shamans in our ancestors days were at that time very powerful and
feared. Their shamanistic power depended on the individual.
They were a chosen few for a purpose. Not just anyone could become
a shaman. If one were to become a shaman, their preparation began
at a very early age. The Inuk whom the Inuit would depend on to
cure the sick, find the migrating animals, that did not migrate
in their expected path, or communicate with the sea mammals to
find food for his or her people, fight off evil doers and who to
would be your 'judge and jury, if you committed any crime, had
certainly be the right ones.
Shamans were our source of living when mother nature did not offer.
Shamans were our powerful prophets, the guardians to survival of the
Inuit life, but all ordinary people were taught orally, of all
survival skills, before other forms of surviving techniques were
introduced to us. Teaching of the survival skills really save
lives in the north. You had to hear and remember and know all
that was taught to you. Then when you become a parent, it is
your responsibility to carry out the tradition.
These are just a few of the things that make us distinct
from other societies.
Time changes people and we were no different from anyone.
We were continuously changing towards improving our tools,
clothing and our skills, but the fact remained that all parents
wanted their children to be good people. People
who would be responsible, practical, accountable and most
of all kind, considerate and good to others.
In the 50's we experienced one of the fastest changes in
Inuit culture, it was destructive but progressive later on.
It was destructive when Inuit families were ordered not
live a nomadic way of life. They were colonized and expected
to live a completely different life style. For a high percentage
of them, it was not their choice. though they were not given any choice.
Those who opposed were given a hard time by the authorities and
other non Inuit community members.
This practice took away, not just the freedom if living wherever
you wanted to, it became difficult for them to provide and sustain
themselves. There were no job opportunities, nor did they know English
as a second language. This made it difficult for them to communicate
what they
needed or wanted in their communities to the government authorities.
For the women it became very difficult to maintain the care of
fur and skin clothing. With this handicap, traditional clothing
was slipping away fast. The hunters no longer took care of the
animal skins as much as they used to. A lot of our traditional
values were no longer being practiced. Christianity played an
important role in the Inuit life, but how much of it was meaningful?
Was everyone just following a trends? Where had out dignity, joy of
freedom gone?
It was progressive, because once we became educated, we were
more determined to be tax payers instead of tax users. With
the knowledge and skills we acquired, we determined the fact
that we wanted our own identity. We wanted our own territory,
so we negotiated, and now we are in the process of
implementing Nunavut.
Today when I look at Nunavut, I can feel the pride of the Inuit
people.
Yes, we are on our way to recovery. We are going to be in
charge. If we make mistakes, it won't take long to correct them.
We can be in partnership with the world. Only we can limit
ourselves. But all this will come with a big price tag if
we are not careful on how we do things, in timing of events
and watching our budget very closely.
The Inuit of Nunavut need not feel an intruder in the house,
demanding changes without the consent of the host.
There will not be such strangers.
We have to be like blind people, to see the true picture.
We shall not see race, nor any other form of discrimination
when we become decision makers. We will need to judge,
"whose cry is real". We must capture the young from falling
through the cracks. It is they who will look after out
grandchildren's affairs. Prevention to disaster will be
the best key for looking after healthier people.
We do not have a whole lot of time, but the excitement
is already in the air. There are different plans already
underway for April 1, 1999. Think of us and remember us
as the same as you and we shall rejoice together, though
distant from one another, we shall be one on that day.
©
Theresie Tungilik
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
Speech given at Canadian Center for Management Development,
Ottawa Ontario. August 1997.
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