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Pieces 21 to 40

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Translation of syllabics on sculpture:
"This polarbear is waiting for a seal to pop up to his breathing hole in a human like position,
using his arm as a harpoon, waiting to slap the seal as it pops up onto the ice."

The Old Woman who killed a Bear (story by Yuani Inuppaq)
"An old woman, a humble little old woman, once killed a bear with her walking stick. A family up from
the big lake (Payne Lake) country was going to cross over some rocky terrain. This is the account of a
family walking towards the sea. The mother could not walk except with a stick. She used to fall behind
and would arrive at night only when it was nearly dawn. They were very hungry, though the son had caches,
and they chewed on caribou skins when there was no food. We, too, used to do the same when there was
no food. Because they were in a hurry to reach the sea, they kept the caribou meat they ate to a minimum,
never eating their fill. They were very wise to do this.
Then when the old woman was walking with her stick as usual in the moonlight very late at night, she was
caught up to by a big male bear who was tracking along her trail. Dodging him with the help of her stick,
she could not be bitten. Turning her mitts inside out, she put them on the end of her cane. When the bear came
after her, she jabbed the stick in his mouth. The mitts stuck in his throat, and he just died.
Then she was arriving at her home without any mittens on. She was usually left behind because she was hungry
(and weak and couldn't keep up). She was not allowed to go on the sled because she was the mother. Her little
grandchild expecting some food as usual appeared to say "Hi, grandma!"
"My dear grandchild, since I've killed an animal you'll be getting something", the grandmother said to him,
joyously. They were already sleeping, but she woke them as she usually did.
When the morning came, the son wanted to go over to fetch the bear with the old woman, his mother, as a guide.
"It's not here but farther away. It's far away on the other side of that distant hill."
When they got beyond the hill, she said, "We've arrived," and he saw the enormous dead creature, which
she had choked with her mittens. She was taken good care of, and they had her ride on the sled; it was a great
happiness.
Stories like this were told when none of us were yet born. In the tent of Iyautilik these listeners have heard it for the first time."

Translation of Attached Note by Jobie Ohaituk: (as for following image)
"This polar bear has turned into a human. In the old days the polar bears used to turn into humans. So this
particular bear has turned into a human. Acting as a human, he strikes a harp seal with a harpoon, so he can
eat. He is really happy pulling in the seal and getting to use his strength.
Polar bears were able to be humans for long periods. This human-like polar bear is hunting for food during
winter. He is hungry and his family living up in the mountains need to eat as well. He needs to feed them though
he is a polarbear - an animal.
With his jaws wide open, he works very hard when a seal pops his head up in a breathing hole. He is shaking,
thinking that his catch will somehow try something. Now that he has eaten, he is now content.
That is how polar bears used to be."

Translation of Attached Note by Jobie Ohaituk: (as for preceding image)
"This polar bear has turned into a human. In the old days the polar bears used to turn into humans. So this
particular bear has turned into a human. Acting as a human, he strikes a harp seal with a harpoon, so he can
eat. He is really happy pulling in the seal and getting to use his strength.
Polar bears were able to be humans for long periods. This human-like polar bear is hunting for food during
winter. He is hungry and his family living up in the mountains need to eat as well. He needs to feed them though
he is a polarbear - an animal.
With his jaws wide open, he works very hard when a seal pops his head up in a breathing hole. He is shaking,
thinking that his catch will somehow try something. Now that he has eaten, he is now content.
That is how polar bears used to be."

*Translation of note attached by Samson Kingalik
"David and Goliath -
This is the giant and David,
David threw the sling towards the giant.
The giant said "What are you little thing?"
David answered "I am throwing you three rocks with the sling"
He got the forehead with the rock. Nobody could touch him because he is a giant".

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