Native Studies: Reaction 3
I wrote down many of the Inuit language translations from chapter 4 of The Long Exile. All I've ever heard up until this course on the Inuit language is that they have numerous words for snow. I think many people would say just that if asked. This section I think, was aimed at helping us build a social constructionist idea as to who who these people generally are. What kind of people would choose to live outdoors in the arctic? I think some of the language introduced begins to explain a remarkable psychology that values stability. True tollerance is practiced, children are allowed to exercise their out their convoluted feelings which may be invoked as tantrums. This behavior is something the typical Inuit outgrows. As a person gains ihuma they outgrow nutaraqpaluktuq and work to establish a harmonious balance. Happiness or quiva attracts others, it's true in American culture as well. An American dropped into The Long Exile would be an interesting experiment. American culture however is possibly the polar opposite as the most successful people, often are not happy. American culture's material base is classist in it's nature. Finer clothes are sought to signify higher class. Wealth is sought as proof of success.
The Inuit run a communal society. Decisions are made, as a group and individually for the benefit of the group. Meanwhile they host a infant mortality rate equivalent to the infant mortality rate of medieval times. The life expectancy is 27. Some of the most important words are immaga which means perhaps and ayunqnaq meaning, it can't be helped. Passivity, tranquility, and above all happiness. Who could look at such relevant values and think "this is all wrong". Well, Christian missionaries did. I found it interesting how Christian teachings impacted the Inuit. When Charlie Oujerack became deluded, thinking he was Jesus Christ incarnate he posed more of an internal threat to the Inuit community than those traditionally deluded. These traditionally deluded peoples became shaman, the spiritually powerful sect of Inuit society.
The mourning customs of the Inuit are characteristically interesting and practical. Josephie's mother, Maggie Nuarluktuk. Following her unexplained death, her body was buried beneath "the rocks", her family said a prayer, burned Maggies clothing, and "returned to their lives". Of course they would have to. The harsh arctic climate doesn't allow time for mourning. This idea was detailed later on, focusing on a man that fell sick. His sickness while not infecting the rest of his family directly, caused them to suffer his fate as well. One man's sickness killed his family. This is the sort of life-or-death necessity that focuses the mind on things immediately relevant. This focus on raw survivalism in a frozen hellscape I think, puts other, more trivial matters in perspective in Inuit culture.
Karl Pilkington, immaga ayunqnaq.
