The Interviews
People would all gather into one place at night, when all the things
that needed to be done had been dealt with. When there was still time, before
it was too late at night, invitations would be shouted out, 'QAGGIAVUUT".
Then the people would start going to a place where drum dances would be
held for them to enjoy the night. They would go to a place where the Igloo
was the largest in the community.
The women would all seat themselves and band themselves, there would be
two groups, the idea was for them to sing together while the man danced
to the song. Once he was done, he would lay down the drum and someone else
would pick up the drum so that they were able to pick up the drum while
the women were together.
When the composition of the drummer was done the singers would stop
singing. The man would leave the drum and someone else would pick it up.
The women would agree among themselves which song they would sing. Once
that was established, then the dancer's wife would lead off, and the man
would start to dance with the drum. Each man would take their turn in picking
up the drum to dance.
I am going to sing a song that tells a story how this man was hunting and
how he wants to see a game animal. When we were caribou hunting we would
be looking for a caribou, hoping to see an animal. This composition reflects
the desire to see a game animal.
When a man picks up a drum, the women would start to sing a song that was
composed by the man who picked up the drum.
AJAA TAAKUJUMAGULUARTUNGAA, AHH NUNAMI MAANI
QIRNIRTURJUAQ TAKUJUMALLUNGA AVUNGA AJA JA
AVUNGA AJAA... QINIRPAKALUARMIGIGA AJA
AHH NUNALI QINIRALUAQ TAKUJUMALLUNGA AVUNGA JA JA...
AHH AVUNGA AJA JA JA...
I wish to see, in this land.
I keep looking to see a black object out yonder.
Out yonder I have looked.
I keep looking throughout the land, to see out yonder.
Yonder AJA JA JA....
That is it, there is more to this song but it is long.
I would have to say that before wood was available, they would have to use
a baleen to make the frame for the QILAUT (drum). I have also noticed that
in comparison to the people living west of here, the drums used in Igloolik
area were much smaller. This was due to the fact that wood was harder to
obtain in this area than it was for the people to the west of us.
When they knew that the daylight was approaching, they would start to hold
QAGGI. They would have had made the drums well in advance.
