A sad day in Salluit

Last week we had a service of rememberance for Noah Kumakuluk, the young teenager lost in a storm last Feb, 2005. Both schools gathered in the gym of Iksuik( means elbow) to remember Noah. Most of the adult population of the community was there as well. I t was a very sad afternoon... one of the saddest I have ever experienced.

It was not long before most of the room was quietly crying. One of the high school teachers, Xavier, had put together a slide show with pictures of Noah. The pictures were beautiful... Noah, the land around Salluit, but very difficult to look at. The photos of Noah brought back his impish smile to me. I have never been in a room where so many people were so emotional. over 800 people. The sadness was something that got ahold of me. I could feel it... it was an organic thing...it moved around the room... I felt I could reach out to touch it but I didn't have to as it was touching me.

Students had been asked to write letters of sympathy to the family. My student, Aloupu's letter, was one of three chosen to be read at the ceremony. Poor Aloupa was home sick so the principal, Annie, asked several of my students to read the letter. All refused except Trudy. Poor Trudy had only a few moments to look at the letter before it was time for her to go to the stage. As she walked thru the audience her courage started to fail her. Then when the first reader gave up and fled the stage in tears, Trudy lost her courage totally. I quietly went up to her to tell her she could do it. Had she not asked a great question to the NHL players that had been in town the week before? She did compose herself and did a fantastic job. Trudy is not used to a great deal of success in school but she always says:" I'll try Pearl."

Needless to say I am most proud of her. It was not an easy room to read to. So many people were openly emotional and poor Trudy herself was upset but she reached down in side of herself and did the job. One can't ask for more.

A trophy has been dedicated in Noah's memory. This trophy will go to the student most like Noah. He did not have a great deal of academic success but did have major success in Marc's IPL group. These boys fix washers, dryers, skidoos and 4 wheelers. They also contribute many hours daily to the free school breakfast and lunch programme. It seemed like a great moment for the family when the trophy was unvieled.

At the closing of the service people were asked to shake hands with the family. There were perhaps 20 or 30 family members there. That was very difficult for me. The saddness became sadder as I moved down the line. Very very painful.

When I came home I headed to the shower for the longest, hotest shower of my life in Salluit. Ususally I try to save the water... not fill up the sewage tank but this was a day that I needed a long hot shower, a strong cup of tea and early to bed.

Many of the students in Pigiurvik school are related to Noah. The next day it was difficult to look at these children as I had done in the past. Several of the family are the scamps of the school. They are the children that I have gotten to know first, and better than most. That happens with kids that are rule breakers. Noah had been the same until he started working with Marc in IPL and the food programme. It was hard to imagine that these older boys and girls ,who are the terrors of the hallways, had been sobbing for hours the day before.

We are deep into fractions in my class these days. Most of them are getting it espically when I use food to get a point across. Their journal writing goes very well. And we are busy sewing Valentine hearts . The boys asked to join the girls in this project. It is often the busiet time of the day for me as everyone seems to need help at the same time . At Christmas time we were making ornaments and it was the same chaos. I cut the wrong thread on something and said:" Oh shit!". One of the girls quietly said: "It's Ok Pearl, we won't tell our parents." I am trying to keep my witts about me this time.

And how are you dong about keeping your witts about you... or have you given in to being witty?
P