Read Online Our Story: Aboriginal Voices on Canada's Past by Tantoo Cardinal - Free Book Online Page B

was even more impressed with the other tools. The majority of them were great, curving crescents—like a woman’s
ulu
, but over ahandspan in length—attached to the sturdiest wooden hafts that Kannujaq had ever felt.
    These
, he thought,
could hack through anything
.
    There were other things as well, spearheads and knives, everything of enormous proportions. It took Kannujaq some time to figure out that some items were belts. Other things he recognized as the bowls worn on the heads of the giants. There was cloth made out of tiny, tiny rings. There were curved plates with no apparent function, and some items that were obviously jewellery.
    Kannujaq was excited, but saddened. This was further evidence that Angula had been mad. A sane man would have shared these with friends and family, making life easier for all.
    Mostly, he felt panic. He understood why the Shining One wanted all of this back. How had Angula managed to steal it?
    They replaced the items, and Siku took Kannujaq back to his dwelling. Siaq was already there, but as Kannujaq sat down, Siku departed, leaving the two of them alone.
    A planned meeting
, Kannujaq thought.
    There was silence for a time. Finally, when Kannujaq could stand it no more, he asked Siaq why she lived among Tunit—especially as a slave.
    She sighed, as though having dreaded the possibility of discussing such things. Then she placed something in the fire. There was thick smoke, the acrid smell Kannujaq now recognized. He began to relax. He realized, then, that she was burning something that had a calming effect on people, made them want to talk, and that she also possessed some
angakoq
knowledge.
    â€œI had a husband once,” she said.
    It was so good to hear his own dialect again!
    â€œBut a time came,” Siaq continued, “when he did not come home. I was alone, and I began to starve, eating my clothing in order to survive.
    â€œIn this state was I found by the Tunit. The Tunit were led by Angula. He took me in as a slave, since I could do waterproof stitching. The Tunit cannot. The Tunit do not like slaves, but Angula always had hisway through bullying. And a slave’s life among Tunit is better than death.”
    Barely
, Kannujaq thought, but he did not speak. One must not interrupt a story.
    â€œAngula attracts strange beings,” Siaq sighed. “One spring, the Tunit discovered a great boat, wood instead of skin, lying gutted along the shore. There were beast-men there, Siaraili, covered in furs and hard shells. They had got wet. They lay frozen, dead, stuck to the ground. Only one among them had not quite died.”
    The Shining One?
    â€œAngula dragged him to camp,” Siaq said. “I was made to care for him. He was huge. Hair like a dogs. Pale, pale skin. He recovered quickly.
    â€œThis one was the Shining One, the one who hates us now. But back then, he was grateful only to Angula. He repaid Angula by intimidating others in the camp for him. Angula enjoyed it. It was like having a bear as a pet. In time, Angula made me teach the Shining One some of the way Tunit speak.
    â€œMore than anything else, Angulas pet wanted to get home, which he said was across the sea. What he could not know was that great boats were spotted now and again, probably searching for him. Cunning Angula always found ways to keep the Shining One out of sight of these boats, unaware of their presence. He kept him distracted with … games, and hunting. With me.
    â€œEventually, I was given to the Shining One, like a gift, and the stranger accepted readily. The giving over of slaves, I later learned, was common where he came from, a place called Gronland. His kind called the worthless Tunit lands Heluland, or Place of Flat Stones.”
    She broke off to wipe at her eyes, which were tearing. Kannujaq remained respectfully silent.
    â€œBut I was laughing at him inside, all the time,” Siaq said, “because I knew that he was just Angula’s