July 14, 2009
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Country food....
I know this may offend some southern " baby beluga " sensibilities, we all know the song that we or our children were raised on... but until you spend time in a culture that is traditionally dependent upon hunting and fishing and shared communally, you do not have a true appreciation of the situation.
This morning from my office which looks over the water, 
heard some gun shots and wondered what was up.There were at least five boats out and the Inuit hunters were out in the bay, which is not uncommon as after seal, but they shot a medium beluga whale. What followed was cutting up and sharing meat with all, on the shore, including yours truly..it is called country food.Last week on Nunavut Day, July 9, there was a traditional feast at the community hall including races and
a dice game with these pre-schoolers. 
Several seals had been caught and as you see here 
skinned and the meat and organs shared, some raw and some to be taken home. 
I sampled some and liver was actually quite good, but the balance I took home and made a stew with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and salt and pepper. Extra bones one of the nurses is giving to the dogs.
Now I am a southerner, a "kablunac" and admittedly do not understand alot of traditional Inuit culture, but I have witnessed and shared in country food and understand some of the effect of the EU ban on seal products. Although they say this excludes Inuit traditional hunting, it is still a global market, and has an affect on the prices of seal skins etc. When some of the animal rights groups, who are often urban based run ads and campaigns showing cute white baby seals being clubbed to death ( which btw has been banned since 1988 ) or use the inukshuk as a symbol, my ire is raised.
So my rant for today.....
Comments (2)
Thanks for this post. We have to understand that culture makes a difference on how we use or abuse things.
@katietroyer - Katie, thank-you for your comment.
The cultural context is always important and when different cultures come in contact with each other, there gains, losses and misunderstandings. As well trying to maintain a traditional culture eg language, dress, religion, foods in a modern western setting adds its challenges you well know at Pinecroft.
With the hunting for this "country food" and the advent of guns,snowmobiles, power boats over kayaks, dog teams, and harpoons there will obviously be a difference and wastage despite regulations. e.g. as I understand it the whales must be harpooned first and then shot..well
as fast moving they may be shot and then harpooned and an animal may be injured or killed and lost before it can be harvested.