Return to the Sea

Naming the new state-of-the-art science ship after Naalak Nappaaluk is a perfect tribute – ­­­before he died, the Nunavik Inuk was a leader, hunter, fisherman, midwife, storyteller, teacher and harvesting advocate. But he was also a consultant, astronomer, newsman, navigator and meteorologist.

“He was just my father,” says Qiallak Nappaaluk, mayor of Kangiqsujuaq. “Everybody has a father. But when he was gone, I realized my father was really knowledgeable because he had been teaching us many things. But the most important was home and family. Sometimes we face good things, happiness, sadness, but we have to work together.”

The Coast Guard said it was honoured to collaborate with Inuit leaders and formally recognize the contributions of Inuit elders. “The names of Canadian Coast Guard vessels are intended to honour and celebrate people and places of regional and national significance, representing the diverse cultures, peoples, and history in Canada,” said the Coast Guard’s Senior Director of Fleet Management, Ryan Tettamanti. “We know many Inuk elders are stewards of the land and seas, and we are thrilled to honour Mr. Nappaaluk’s legacy through our commitment to building a stronger understanding of Canada’s marine environment.”

The Coast Guard is “deeply committed to its reconciliation journey,” said Nicole Elmy, the Coast Guard’s Executive Director of Indigenous Relations, but putting an Indigenous name on a ship is just one part of it. “Of equal importance is the process by which names are selected and the opportunity for our staff and the public to learn about their significance,” she said. “We understand the power that names hold, that they can celebrate or be hurtful, and so we are approaching the naming of some of the new ships as an important, collaborative opportunity to work together with Indigenous peoples.”

Naalak understood the power of names. He proudly carried the names of his father and grandfather. He was a revered knowledge keeper who was passionate about preserving family ties and Inuit knowledge. He resolved to teach others and ensure the specific language of harvesting, travelling and surviving was retained and passed on. He was a consultant for multi-media Inuit communications company Taqramiut Nipingat Incorporated, the Avataq Institute (Nunavik’s cultural preservation organization), Nunavik teacher training programs, and other organizations, generously sharing his knowledge with anyone willing to listen.

When hunters began to advocate for the return of the bowhead whale hunt to Nunavik, Naalak was at the forefront. Though bowhead hunting had been banned since before he was born in 1928, he’d been told by his mentors how it had been done and he spent years fighting to harvest a whale. When a bowhead harvesting license was finally granted in 2008, a gray-haired Naalak joined the celebration at Akulivik Bay to greet the hunters as they returned and to enjoy bowhead maktaaq for the first time. He died two years later.

“It was something for Nunavimmiut,” says Qiallak, who was also on the beach when the whale hunters returned. “We ate it, and it seemed like we’d eaten it before, like we were used to it. I think it was in our blood. We were so excited. I remember it was a really good taste.”

Knowing how to hunt bowhead whales without ever having done it is extraordinary. But that was only one example of Naalak’s skill, capacity and contribution to society, Qiallak says

He used to say that a woman needed to hold on to her husband when she was in labour and many men did not like to do that so he would be that person, coaching women through the birth and helping deliver babies, Qiallak says. He knew the Inuktitut names for specific stars — like Ullautut, Sakiatsiat, Tuktujuk — and knew that to navigate by the stars, you had to understand how they moved, over time, in the sky. He knew that a west wind created rough waves in the snow and that you could maintain your direction by closely monitoring the wave patterns. He knew how to protect himself if a polar bear charged. He knew ajaaja songs. He loved to sing them.

He learned most of these things from Alaku, the elder who raised him. Naalak was named after his father, Naalaktuujaq, and his grandfather Nappaaluk. But Naalaktuujaq died before Naalak was born and Alaku, a generous provider and elder, adopted the boy and mentored him.

When he came of age, Naalak married a woman named Mitiarjuk. Mitiarjuk also became a renowned elder, educator, sculptor, and author. She is famous for writing Sanaaq, one of the first Inuktitut novels, and for helping to write one of the first Inuktitut dictionaries. Mitiarjuk passed away in 2007. She and Naalak had five children. They also raised two adopted children and two grandchildren and were godparents to dozens of others.

It’s important for Qiallak to mention all these relations because for her father, family was the most important thing. He and Mitiarjuk cared deeply for each other, she says, and kept each other alive.

“He used to say your family is really important. You have to know who your family is so you can be comfortable and help each other,” Qiallak said. “That was how families used to be. You had to know who all your relatives were so you could take care of each other. So, when you were in another community, it would still feel like home. And he made his home the same way for others.”

Many Nunavimmiut have been named after Naalak Nappaaluk and so when the new ship is christened, they too will see their name on the side. It is one more gift from Naalak to his family.