to be Inuvialuit?

Charlie Thrasher, Elder, Paulatuk

“We take care of each other. I lived with my parents, and enjoyed working to make a living, so I can take care of them.”

Sarah

Kuptana, Ulukhaktok

“I especially like how we get to go hunting on the land. I hunt around Ulukhaktok. We have char, caribou and seal. It’s great to be out in nature, the scenery is beautiful. I love seeing caribou, but I haven’t seen one for a while. I like drum dancing too.”

Lilias Mitchelner, Inuvik

“Inuvialuit like to be independent and rely on ourselves. When I was young, my father became blind, but he would still chop wood everyday. When we came home from school, my dad would have fish for us. Even though other people were worried for him and said we shouldn’t let him chop wood or fish, he was happy to provide for his family. He would walk across the river with a stick, hitting the ice to find air holes. In the same way, I value family. I take time to look after my children.”

Neta & Shanna Allen, 9 & 11 years old, Inuvik

Neta: “We get to have Inuvialuktun classes in school! My favorite thing to say is “Taughirniarving mukluk” which means “Let’s go to the store”. Shanna: “We also get to do special crafts and games. We made the napatchuk in school last year.”

by Zoe Ho

Duane Drescher, Inuvik, 19

"I like the stories about the past, how our people survived on their own without guns etc. I like the singing and dancing, I jig and wear traditional clothes."

Linda Firth, Inuvik, 13 "I like travelling on the land, fishing and hunting."

Marilyn Maring, Inuvik, 13

"I like it when go out in the bush, we set up snares for lynx, foxes and wolverines. We caught two foxes once. My dad usually skins them."

Chelsea Elias, 10 years, Inuvik

“The language. I know how to count to 10. My favorite word is qulinrutailaq, it means number 9.”

Freddie Rogers, Lives off the land part time

“I didn’t have a very good education. My skills are learnt on the land, and I find living to feel best on the land. Being Inuvialuit— it’s hard to describe what it is, but it’s always good to be proud of who you are, just don’t get too prideful as it can hurt you!”

“If I can’t get a job in town, I know what I have to do to survive by living off the land. And I don’t have to kiss nothing” (he laughs).

“I was raised off the land for most of my life, but I lost part of my culture when I was in school for 10 years. I am trying to get it back. I have re-learnt most of the skills like trapping and fishing, but I’ve lost my language, and I miss it the most.”

“It hurts me when I try to speak Inuvialuktun with the elderly, and cannot express what I mean because I only know the basic words. My stepsister, Sandra Ipana teaches Inuvialuktun in school. I am glad the younger generation has the chance to get back into the flow.”