Life Among the Qallunaat by Mini Aodla Freeman

Author:Mini Aodla Freeman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Manitoba Press
Published: 2015-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

SHE HAD COLD HANDS, BUT THE LEAST PAINFUL

Again the first ship arrived and the usual excitement went on. I had no idea that I would have to leave on that first ship to go to Fort George. My father had been told by the missionary that I should have a proper medical checkup. That very evening, my father carried me on his back to board me on the ship. After he got me comfortable on his back, we went out of the tent. My eyes hurt from the brightness of the sun and the day. I looked at the world, and it was just like the day I got sick, the sun beaming down, the air so still, and I could see seagulls diving up and down. Below them were fish nets. Whoever the nets belonged to would have half seagull-eaten fish and big holes to be mended on their nets. My heart went out to whoever it was. The fish nets were another way that my people survived, and it was another way that some destructive intruder destroyed their equipment. At that moment, a heavy loneliness swept through my body. It seemed I could never stay long enough on this familiar ground, on the land that is so much a part of me. There is always something to make me leave it. I wanted to speak to the ears of my father, who was carrying me on his back, and tell him that I did not feel sick, that I was well enough to stay home. Then again, I thought that he too had to listen to the authorities who act so much more knowledgeable.

We reached my father’s canoe, and he got the motor going, and off we went to the ship that was anchored half a mile away. I looked to the horizon; it was calm and there were many seagulls flying around. We passed our berry-picking place and I hoped to be back when they were ripe, and to help pick them with the women, when again they got permission to use their husbands’ canoes. I put this in the back of my mind and became aware of my surroundings. We reached the ship and Father slowed down his motor. We got to the side of the ship. Father helped me up on the deck, and one of the crew showed him the cabin I was to occupy. He brought me down to it, and there again, I got the usual lecture that I had heard so often at my departures. Father went back up on the deck. I did not bother to follow him because I knew I would have tears. The sound of his motor faded away. I felt cut off from everything familiar. We left within a few minutes. I lay down and began to feel the motion of the ship. My stomach went with the motion, and I felt sick all the way. Some time later, one of the crew came down and offered me a meal, laying it near me.

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