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EduTech Research Project Presents John Tyman's INUIT ~ People of the Arctic Unit V: COMMUNITY, INSTITUTIONS AND VALUES Back to Main Navigation Page |
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Till the nineteen fifties the peope here were nomadic, moving in small family groups. In winter a large number traditionally gathered at Thom Bay, building snow houses along the shore beyond the Mission, where they enjoyed a co-operative lifestyle. |
The people here traded at a store nearby, but this was closed when "the 'Bay" relocated to Spence Bay. Eventually the old settlement was abandoned and the mission was closed. However, much of the old community spirit survived.. |
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The new site was chosen by "the 'Bay" because it had a better harbour. The old post had been difficult to service. The new store was built overlooking the bay, as you can see. |
The whole area was frozen over in winter, of course.. . |
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But the ice melted in the spring, and the supply ship was able to get in during the late summer, unloading into warehouses and uncovered storage areas with the aid of lighters. |
A school was built at much the same time, and also a nursing station -- on the hill in the background. These provided a powerful attraction for people to settle.. . |
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Some of the best house sites are along the shore close to water -- and in winter, of course, close to the ice. Other houses, as here, were laid out on flat sites between the rocks and the coast, wherever the land was level enough and there was enough gravel for the footings. |
The construction and allocation of housing was the responsibility of the Housing Association. In some instances relatives have been able to rent houses near each other: but the allocation system has resulted in groupings less functional than those which prevailed in the past.. |
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Taloyoak (still known as Spence Bay at the time of my visit) lay within Canada's Northwest Territories. As such it was administered from Yellowknife. Since 1999, however, it has been part of a separate Inuit territory known as Nunavut, administered from Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay). |
The territorial Government maintained a number of offices in town, which provided services to the local comunity. The Renewable Resources department was responsible for the conservation of game in particular.. .. |
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Electricity on the other hand came from a local generator operated by a local power company. . |
Taloyoak was rated as a "hamlet" for administrative purposes and had its own council chamber, office and fire station. (With everything so dry indoors, house fires here soon get a hold.) |
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The councillors were elected locally, and had responsibility for local affairs. . |
While Renewable Resources drafted the regulations, the day to day operation of hunting and trapping was supervised by a local Hunters and Trappers Association. The executive here are giving their annual report.. |
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They too are elected: and at the AGM the list of nominations is scanned carefully by voting members. |
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Text, photos and recordings
by John Tyman
Intended for Educational Use
Only.
Copyright Pitt Rivers Museum,
Oxford University, 2010.
Contact Dr.
John Tyman for more information regarding licensing.
Photo processing, Web page layout,
and formatting by
William
Hillman | www.hillmanweb.com
Assistant Professor ~ Faculty
of Education ~ Brandon University ~ Brandon, Manitoba ~ Canada