Things Nunavut Taught Me

As today is summer solstice, national aboriginal day and a five year anniversary of beginning to do do casual social work stints in Nunavut, the first being in Kugluktuk, I thought perhaps I would do more of some reflective writing as opposed to my usual photos...

• Edmonton is not north or necessarily is Yellowknife
• That one asks first before taking a mug in the health center coffee room…proprietary rights and more serious if the cup you chose belongs to the CHR
• That intonation and pronunciation when learning phrases in Inuktitut or Inuacqtuin makes all the difference in the world in meaning..aka…thank-you vs. seaweed, how are you vs. I want to have sex, it is cold out and I would like some tea or coffee vs. it is cold out and you have a hard on…latter advised not to use if dealing with male patients. Got acutely embarassed after these attempts and stopped any further learning for a while.
• Slow down, take time, shut up and listen
• That although there are cultural differences between Inuit and Kabunach, one of the greatest dividing lines is attitudinal between north and south. In our work situations, we can easily identify the southerners from their expectations of availability of resources and the speed at which tasks can be performed. Aka.. summer of 2003 arriving in Kugaaruk, a hamlet of about 350, when acting as both social worker and probation officer, I received a call from “Susie” a young woman beginning her employment as a parole officer in Iqaluit. The request from for a community report on an offender who was in Ontario and wanted to come back for a compassionate visit. Susie had a list of the requirements including housing of the offender, and RCMP officers and offered to come do the report if I was unable….when I said “ please understand that I had just arrived in town and needed some time to assess the community “ she enthusiastically replied “me too “ and to my “where from? “ “ Just outside Toronto! “ That said it all!
•  Just because some one assures you that a task has been completed, unless you have done it yourself or seen it done, do not necessarily believe what has been told you.
• I like most country food especially frozen char and caribou
• That youth and sports in Nunavut are phenomenal, including competitive swim teams from Iqaluit, boys soccer teams who raise enough funds to go from Arctic Bay to Pond via skidoos, hockey and golf in all seasons, traditional games, biathletes in cadets in Whitehorse and enthusiastic 12 –16 yr olds who will x-c ski at minus 30oC
• Traveling by Canadian North or First Air is much better than Air Canada because they feed you and the fees for extra bags is not as great and until recently, x-c skis traveled free. Not to drink excess coffee in the Rankin airport when flying Ken Borek which has no washrooms aboard.
• There is a difference between roads and skidoo trails in winter when driving the social services van…they get stuck in the latter
• No matter what precautions are taken with protective clothing, mosquitoes and “no-see ums” will find, bite or lodge in the vulnerable body parts e.g. ankles, backs of neck as and ear canals. The solution for the latter is oil as it drowns the mosquitoes and the buzzing discovered initially during church service will eventually cease. “After bite “ works well.
• A 10 foot circle of stones is not an ancient camp fire pit but a tent ring and whale bones don’t burn, even if they look like drift wood aka fishing derby last summer Salmon Creek
• The arctic has huge bumblebees and intricate colorful minute arctic flowers.
• To ask first the price when planning an outing such as a boat fishing trip or sewing project and to pay upon the completion of the project not several days before
• Time is relative
• Racism goes both ways
• West is not Vancouver or Alberta
• Airports are great meeting places
• Noon hours, 5 PM and sleep are sacred
• Sewing patterns of kamiks and mitts are unique to every region and patience is learned in sewing classes from the elder ladies
• The joys and challenges of living and working in small communities
• The north is in many ways "third world "
• Work colleagues can either be for the most part gems but there are also the occassional odd or crazy personality
• An appreciation for open and vast spaces and arctic blues, pinks and golds of the sky
• Despite the midnight sun, one needs to go to bed, darken ones room, especially if " on call "
• Story telling is an invaluable tool
• A limited appreciation of maritime humour as many co-workers are from " the rock " or Cape Breton
• My learning is only beginning
• CBC radio -1 is a unifying to the rest of Canada
• Johnny Cash and Jordin Tootoo are both very popular
•  as a relative " newbie " to Nunavut I would not trade in this work experience for any permanent offers in the south unless I could still continue to "work north ".