Letters to the Editor

Once again, the Nunatsiaq News Letters to the Editor page is full of thoughful and interesting, nay, fascinating correspondence. Here's one:

May 9, 2003

A heartfelt thank-you from the Palliser family
We'd like to thank all Inukjuakmiut for the support and food that they gave to the late Minnie Palliser's survivors, plus all those who consoled and visited the family and gave flowers for our mother's grave.
A special thank-you to Inukjuak Tulliup Nipinga, Inukjuak Co-op, and to the kitchen staff of Nunavimmi Pigiursavik. Thank you to special visitors: Annie Inukpuk of Umiujaq, Carole and Lyndsay Anne Novalinga of Puvirngnituq, and Patsy and Lyndsay Anne Tulugaq of Kuujjuaq.
Thank you to Puvirnituq staff of Inuulitsivik Hospital and the Inukjuak staff at the CLSC, and thank you very much to Kristin Kirby for the lovely bouquet of flowers. Thank-you to all those who mailed and e-mailed letter of condolences, by phone, and by local radio.
Our mother survived nine years after her first stroke. She kept getting small ones over the years until the last one, which took place in January 2003, and which she didn't manage to bounce back from.
She left her survivors in peace on Feb. 11, 2003, at 5:23 p.m., when her kidneys failed. Our mother was a real role model for us. She had gone to Paris, Alaska, Norway and to many Canadian cities to perform throat chanting; she had gone to a lot of Nunavik communities representing elders; she made clothing such as amautiks and kamiks; she sculptured soapstone; and she was a natural midwife.
Our hearts are full of loving and wonderful memories of her here on Earth. She led a rich and full life to the very end. We rest assured that she has joined Our Father for she was greeting him, her mother, her father, and women by the name of Mina and Sarah in the last couple of her days.
Kids say the darnest things: A couple of days after my mother's death, one of her great-grandsons surprised his mother when he announced, "When I die I'd like to be buried next to my Aippaq (his wife, for he was named after our father) in the hilly rocks." A couple of days later he came back to his mother again and announced "If you guys refuse to bury me next to my Aippaq, I'll change my mind about dying."
Thank you all who knew my mother and greeted her with respect and love. God bless you all.

Caroline Palliser
Inukjuak