No charity wanted from Qallunaaq “foreigners”

The recent publication of Jane George’s “Social worker’s drive aims to warm up Ivujivik’s kids” borders on conflict of interest on the part of newcomer agency social worker Stacey Gibeau who claims that she’s doing it as a mother in one paragraph, but then goes on to claim that she’s allowing her employer, the Inuulitsivik Health Centre, pay for the transport of the clothes.  

Does that mean that all social workers can go to their home towns and ask for donations to save Nunavik’s and Nunavut’s children from freezing, with the pertinent health centres paying for the transport of the clothing?  

There are 14 other northern villages in Nunavik alone, including Chisasibi.  And I am quite certain that the Quebec government’s health sector is not too keen on overspending money in the Hudson Bay district, what with the many years of deficits that have accumulated over the years.

It’s my opinion too that she’s wrong when she says that “every kid there could use some clothing,” because I know many families take darn good care of their children and strive to keep them from freezing by purchasing clothing from various stores elsewhere.  

This is summer.  Wait until February and March before calling it freezing. Besides, Inuit are hardy up here because of their blood, which is such that it can withstand a lot of cold, much better than that of Qallunaat.  

Inuit children have survived for centuries without much of any material property to claim. It’s very likely that they’ll survive this coming winter again.  

I am more worried about newcomers who have no inkling of how harsh our environment can become until they step off the plane. They remind me of Franklin who came to the Arctic ill-prepared and it cost him his life. 

In that sense, Ms. Gibeau is suffering from sickness that is common among lots of foreigners coming to the North.  They become quite depressed and have bouts of odd behaviour that is a result of having obtained mental shock upon learning of the reality of the Arctic. 

Who can blame her as she comes from a very large town of 47,000 people and she traveled hundreds of kilometres to an isolated village of less than 350 Inuit?

Somehow, it just does not seem right that a social worker from Cornwall, Ontario is clothing all the kids of Ivujivik on the one hand and taking those same kids away from their parents with the other. 

What am I suppose to say to that story?   “Boy, am I ashamed that our kids are removed from their homes!  She’s such an angel.”?   Or, “That lady ought to start a line of free clothing for Ivujivik and beat our Co-op.”? 

Of course mothers will welcome any new clothing that’s free or cheap, but how long can that last?  We cannot hope to start a Salvation Army or a similar charitable organization, although the local Anglican church already receives some clothing every so often.

The feeble attempts by foreigners to try to make a difference by assimilating whole people into southern way of living really has no impact on our customs and heritage. 

Typical Qallunaat come up here, have no staying power worth noting and then they go, only to be forgotten soon.  It’s not our intention to follow them.

Adamie Kalingo
Ivujivik