Philomena Tutalik
Date of Birth:
Place Born:
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Fishing at Netsilik
When we got to Netsilik, we went to Netsilik from Gjoa-Haven. When the policemen came and got us we came here and fished. At that time there was some people here who had camps set up. His step-parents had a camp here at that time, but he was not here because he was out hunting, my uqaq. I also called his mother my mother, when we got in his mother told me to sit down on the bed. So I sat down, my mother was a good friend with them and she was always happy to be with them.
We then started to fish there, they started to put nets in the river. We set a camp and stayed. They were always catching fish with the nets those policemen. They would put the fish in that little island, and that is when us ladies gutted the fish. The little island was full of fish because there was a lot of fish. The fish that were caught were either cached or brought home to Taloyoak to feed the dogs, which is what the policemen used to do in those days.
I know that this story is not a legend but I wanted to tell the story, because I don't always remember stories.
At the time there were a lot of nets in the river. And some people were walking to see the boat, they would come in from Taloyoak. In those days it did not bother people to walk that distance.
I used to take dogs for some policemen too, by walking from Taloyoak. I took them to Naluq when it was almost dark, no it was not Naluq it was Pangaligaqtarvik.
This river has many different names for different part of the river, but I don't remember most of them. But I know Pangaligaqtarvik and Itimniq, and some points by the river, but I have forgotten some of the names. The two islands down there are called Uiniatuqiraq and Tinitiqiraq. And there is a place called Pikiuliriak by the back of the Lake (where the river starts from). There are many tent rings by that place. There were always people there who had come to fish.
And that is how it was. That is how the policemen used to get food for their dogs.
When spring started and when summer came my parents would come here to fish. They would go to where the river starts and fish. We would go to their camp on foot, it never seemed to be too far to walk at that time. I would walk and pack too, some times Moonik would. Sometimes we would sleep over, some times we stay over for more than one day.
During the winter my parents would stay at Qinguq with other people. My mother at the time adopted Umingmak. They were neighbors of his parents. My mom would always talk about her neighbors and say how nice and helpful they were. They would spend their time netting at Netsilik Lake.