Enoki Kunuk
Northern News Services

Iglulik (Feb 04/02) - Ikkarialuk would disappear under water and every time he went under it would be longer than the last time. I started to shout to God and prayed. My friend, when he surfaced yelled that his family would be expecting him home and they would be waiting for nothing. He wanted me to come and get him.

The only way I could go get him was if I jumped into the water myself. Everything I had went across with my qamutik. I started yelling at Ikkarialuk, "If both of us drown, no one will know what happened to us! I think I'll be able to get you when the ice comes together."

"Try to move towards the other side through the qamutik path," I yelled. "I can't reach you from where I am."

Even though Ikkarialuk would disappear under water, he would surface and he started trying to move a bit. He was taking a long time. Every time he surfaced, his arms would come up first.

Then in front of us, the grinding sound of moving ice stopped. The solid ice started to come together. I thought I should back up and run with my arms outstretched to be able to run ahead faster. Then, I could cross through the broken ice.

I ran with my arms stretched out, thinking my arms would keep me afloat on the ice if I fell through. Where I had stepped on the floating ice, my foot went underwater. However, I made it across.

I knew now that I could get Ikkarialuk out of the water. I was on solid ice on the other side. My mind was racing to find ways to try and get him out. My body went limp. I was trying to run to the qamutiks but my legs would give out.

I reached Ikkarialuk's qamutik. The ropes were tied tightly on and his whip was tied as he had planned to hold onto it if he fell in the water. I was trying to move as fast as I could.

I ran to my own qamutik, untied the ropes and placed my belongings on the ice. I tied the rope onto my ankle and put my foot against a piece of ice. The rope was long, but every time I threw the rope to Ikkarialuk, it wouldn't reach.

Then I remembered my father, Sikluk, telling me a story. He told me that he was out with a friend, Qangualuk, and their boat was very leaky. When they reached the floe edge, my father started to repair the boat, sealing the leaky parts.

Sinking hope

Qangualuk said, "Here, I am not worthy of anything." When Qangualuk turned the boat over to use it, Sikluk told him, "As soon as the water starts to come in, turn back."

While Qangualuk was trying to get a bearded seal, Sikluk noticed that the boat was very low to the water. He yelled at him, "Come back now!"

In his haste to get back to the ice, Qangualuk was rowing too fast. His boat started rocking sideways and the current was moving the boat away from the ice. Sikluk told him to slow down. Qangualuk got scared, he tried to go faster and he tipped over.

Sikluk tied ropes together to make it longer. He tied a piece of ice at the end of the rope but couldn't reach Qangualuk.

Sikluk prayed, asking for help and asking for an idea. He got an idea! He swung the rope around like a lasso and threw it. He got Qangualuk out that way.

When I thought of that story, I figured I could get Ikkarialuk to safety just like my father did with his friend. I was pulling him too fast though and he kept going underwater.

Then I remembered again my father saying that the same thing happened to him and he had to slow down, then Qangualuk's head went above the water. Same thing happened to Ikkarialuk when I slowed down.

Sikluk had shouted to his friend, "When you grab the rope, wind it around your arm." I believe now, that my father put that thought in my head. I asked Ikkarialuk to do exactly that and also, "Put the rope between your teeth." Then I was able to pull him to safety.

Next week: the conclusion of the adventure.