Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Mar 22/00) - Baker Lake's Simon Tookoome never wanted to give up his traditional lifestyle and move into a settlement.

One of the last Inuit to give up his nomadic way of life, Tookoome moved to Baker in 1968, at 34 years of age, out of concern for his son's schooling and well-being.

His son, Moses, had been taken from him by the RCMP and a social worker and placed in Baker's residential school. Tookoome and his wife had to settle in Baker to get Moses back in their care.

Tookoome, with the help of Jewish author/storyteller Sheldon Oberman, has recently published a book entitled The Shaman's Nephew.

The tome vividly relates the trials and tribulations Tookoome faced in adapting to a changing world.

"When Inuit and Kabloonaq first met, we didn't understand each other," says Tookoome, as a matter of fact.

"Inuit wanted to be friends with Kabloonaq, and it is possible Kabloonaq wanted to be friends also, but it was very difficult because of the lack of understanding."

Tookoome says for a long time, Inuit preferred to simply visit small settlements, do their trading and then head back out on the land.

He says at that time, the Kabloonaq even failed to realize that insuit was a form of a writing system used by Inuit people.

"I tried very hard to understand the Kabloonaq and their ways," says Tookoome.

"As a member of the human race, I always wanted to be friends with non-Inuit, no matter what race, because I knew they had feelings just like myself.

"I resisted moving into a settlement until my children were of school age, and they had to be in school for us to be together."

Tookoome, who is a highly-respected artist and master of the 40-foot whip, is a justice of the peace and Baker's fire chief.

He says although there will always be distinctions between the two cultures, he feels Inuit and Kabloonaq have grown closer through the years and believes that to be a positive development.

"I am also actively involved with the Rangers, search and rescue and am one of the town's religious leaders through the Anglican Church," he says proudly.

"I get involved with so many things because I want to help and make a difference.

"I want my book to remind people of where Inuit come from and the struggles we have overcome to adapt to the Kabloonaq's world.

"It has not been easy, but we are learning more and getting stronger all the time.

"But, as we move towards the future, we cannot forget our proud history, culture and tradition."