As a child, Ruth remembers being raised in Aklavik, by her parents Joe and Bella Greenland. She recounts her memories of when the people from McPherson and the Arctic Red River would all travel to Aklavik; setting up their white tents along the sandbar. The elderly women would have berries and drymeat, and Ruth was told on many occasions not to bother the elders. Being something of a troublemaker was one of Ruth’s specialities.
Ruby remembers that as a child, although she attended school in Aklavik, her parents would take all their children out on the land every summer to the family’s fish camp. There Ruby learned the traditional skills of making dryfish, drymeat, cooking, making bannock, bread and donuts and sewing. Her mother would make her do things over and over again until they were done right.
Renie was raised by her parents Laura and Ben Kunnizzie in Fort McPherson along with her four brothers: Thomas, Ben, George and John and her two sisters: Effie-Jane and Margaret. Renie’s mother passed away while Renie was still a child and as a result had to quit school in order to help her father. She regrets not being able to go to school and advises children today to stay in school as it was a privilege she didn’t have.
As a child, Renie and her five siblings were raised by her parents, John and Bella Martin in a place called Ross River. Hunting for muskrat alongside her father, fishing and making dryfish with the catch of the day are some of the things that Renie remembers enjoying throughout her childhood. Renie lived in several different places growing up. She remembers her family and numerous other families travelling over the mountains with dogsleds on their way to Mayo.
As a child, Rebecca remembers being raised by her grandparents down at Cut Off. Along with her grandparents, Rebecca also remembers her brother Alvie, her uncle William, and William Nerysoo. Rebecca fondly recalls a summer memory, gathering a pail-full of crowberries and cooking them with some fish blood that Catherine Nerysoo had collected. “I remember, it was very good,” she says “I always wanted to tell that story.”
Rachel Stewart was born on November 19, 1923 at Husky River into a family of seven brothers and sisters. Rachel is the daughter of the late William and Catherine Nerysoo (Salu). Her maternal grandparents were the late Simon and Tabitha Diindzik. At a young age, Rachel was sent to Hay River by steamboat to attend the Anglican Residential School where she lived for five years. After returning home
Pierre was born in 1921 near the little lake called Ghost Lake, which is located on the Flats in front of Tsiigehtchic. He said that he was born on a cold day in February. “Lots of good looking girls kissed me. I hope so anyway!” he added. Much of Pierre’s life has been spent living and working in the bush. In his early years, Pierre lived with his parents up the Arctic Red River where they hunted and trapped.
Percy was born on August 23, 1940 and is the eldest of his siblings: Ellen Smith, Joseph, Charlie, Johnny, Annie J.Tetlichi, Esther Lord (d), Susie Firth, Diane and Maureen Koe. Percy was born to Peter and Mary (Vittrekwa) who still reside in Fort McPherson. His paternal grandparents were the late William and Elizabeth Vittrekwa (Snowshoe) and his maternal grandparents were the late Chief Johnny and Beatrice (Ross) Kay.
Pearl Carmichael was born on Great Bear Lake in 1927. Pearl’s parents are Harry and Mary Harrison. Pearl has three siblings, Daisy, Myrtal and Harry, Jr. Pearl’s mother, Mary, had had six children in total, of which only three survived. Although Pearl had lost her mother when she was only nine years old, she recalls her childhood as plentiful of cherished memories such as snaring rabbits and trapping with her siblings and father.
