What I Remember, What I Know by Larry Audlaluk

Author:Larry Audlaluk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inhabit Media

14

Apex Hill

In late March or early April of 1964, Simeonie Amagoalik arrived alone with a dog team to get his stepbrother Thamoosie. Back in 1953, when the officials were dividing up the families onboard the C.D. Howe, Simeonie had protested against being separated from Thamoosie to no avail. Finally, Simeonie was able to take Thamoosie with him to Resolute Bay, where he should have gone in the first place. Samwillie and Louisa went with Thamoosie and Charlie as far as the end of Viks Fiord. I had always thought Simeonie left ahead of them, but Louisa told me they left at the same time. A year before he passed away, Simeonie told me how he and his brother had travelled together all the way to Resolute after Samwillie turned back. They came across a food cache just before crossing Wellington Channel. Charlie, being just a youngster, had raided the sweets, including bags of raisins. On the trail, Thamoosie was having trouble catching up with Simeonie, and Simeonie began to wonder why he was stopping so frequently. When they finally caught up, Thamoosie explained that Charlie had had a bad case of the runs. The raisins and the sweets at the cache were the source of his trouble.

I remember Simeonie’s departure as clear as day, yet I have no memory of Thamoosie and Charlie leaving. I may very well have suppressed the thought of losing one of my best friends, whom I’d known for as long as I could remember.

In September of the same year, a government-run school called Churchill Vocational Centre (CVC) was started in Fort Churchill, Manitoba. It offered academic classes, home economics, and shop classes, including courses on basic arc welding, sheet metal, carpentry, small engine repair, and drafting. Those who scored higher grades at the start of the school year went to Duke of Edinburgh High School. The few who were twelve years of age and under attended Hearne Hall. Both of these schools were also in Fort Churchill, and students from CVC, Duke of Edinburgh, and Hearne Hall lived in the same dormitory complex. At CVC, students came from the Eastern Arctic region as far south as Sanikiluaq, as well as Nunavik, Baffin Island, Keewatin, and Arviat. Roger Killiktee was the first student from Grise Fiord to ever attend CVC. I will never forget seeing Roger leave Grise Fiord. He walked the four kilometres to the dirt strip carrying his standard blue-coloured trunk and an army surplus sleeping bag. He was wearing his black covered parka. I was so envious, wishing I could go too.

When the 1964 school year started, I was still having spots of eye trouble, although they were not as intense as when we lived in the Lindstrom Peninsula area. In January of 1965, I had to have my tonsils removed. A medical charter was scheduled to come up in January when the moon was full—when there was as much light as possible during the dark season. There were five us, including me, Joatamie and Ikumak, Odluviuvik Nutaraqjuk, and Hanna Quaraq.

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