Nov 10th, 2005

Another day of no school. This time the power was off most of the morning. It is now back on but may go off again as they are upgrading the lines. Marie Andree is happy as she has rented out her truck to the power company. But I don't think I will try to cook cakes or fancy things this weekend.

We have lots of snow down now. Once it started it did not stop. The skidoos are out. Now that the roads are paved in Salluit I am surprised they have not built snow bridges acrss the roads for the skidoos. It can't be good for them to drive on pavement. And it would slow people down as they come roaring down the hill.

It is pretty in Salluit now. The rocks still jut out of the snow but soon everything will look like a naked Dairy Queen treat. The river has started to freeze but the tide washes out the thin ice each day. But it won't be long until the river and then the bay is frozen over. The bay ice freezes to over 12 feet thick. Each year I say I am going to walk across the bay to the other side, climb that hill and see what is over there... but each time I get a quarter of a mile out, I chicken out, and crawl back to land. A girl from Digby just does not walk on ice, no matter how thick. Being a bit of a scamp, I do enjoy the skidoo rides to the ice edge. I reassure myself by saying the machine would out run the cracks in the ice. Pretty dumb.

Tomorrow Nunivik... not Nunavut... will celebrate James Bay Day. That was the day that the courts recognized the right of the Cree and Inuit to decide what would happen to their land. It was a massive treaty. The provinice of Quebec wanted to develop the power in and around the James Bay. They brought in heavy machinery to start digging up Cree and Inuit land without even informing them, let alone thinking about compensation. I taught this when I was in the high school so I will dig out my notes and give you all a short lesson on the aggreement.

Salluit was one of three desenting villages. These villages voted not to accept the agreement, and to never allow the development of their land. The other 11Inuit villages signed. So did all the Cree. Rather strong minded people. Some elders still feel that way. The development and changes have been so rapid, and at times positive , other times negative. I see it as a work in progress... many problems yet to be solved.

One of the highlights of the c elebrations tomorrow is a community feast. Food will be cooked in the tradional ways, brought to the Community centre and the entire village will sit on the floor and eat. Pearl will be the one not eating walrus. The more I chew it the bigger it gets. I end up with a huge glob of walrus that I can never chew, nor swallow.

There will be games as well... Inuit games and Bingo. Also the Mayor will climb on the highest house and throw clothing to people gathered below. Also candies. The clothing will have the village name on it, or Air Inuit clothing, or other winter gear with Nunavik printed on it.There is a real battle for the goodies. Several large cartons of clothing will the distributed that way... oh what fun.

I must run. Hope everyone is having a great day.
pearl