Place of the Beluga

Whapmagoostui in Cree, translates to "Place of the Beluga". This is where I traveled to for two weeks in the summer of 1990.  (A fact about myself that I shared a few posts back)  It is the northernmost Cree village located on the Hudson Bay and the Great Whale River in Quebec, Canada.  The village is only accessible by air and, in late summer, by boat. 

I was one of five students, along with two professors, that took the journey.  Driving for two full days and flying into the village on the third.  We were each dropped off at a home and expected to live with and learn about the family, their culture and their environment.  It is an experience I will never forget.  Someday I will have to take my negatives and have my pictures put onto disk so I can share them with you.

For now, I can share some pictures of the gifts that my family made for me.  The grandmother I lived with was Mary.  She presented me with these on my final day after working on them during the time I was there:

I can still smell the smoke from the tanning of the caribou hide.  The fur is from the beaver.  And just look at that beading!!

One of her daughters made this - again, on the caribou hide:

And I'm sure you will appreciate what the back looks like:

Other items from her daughters and granddaughters included the following:

The backs of the barrettes are finished with the caribou hide as well.

A beaded key chain:

I love the double row of beads on the edge.

And beaded earrings:

See the backs?  Yep.  That's the caribou hide again!

When I do get around to having my pictures put onto disk, I may just share a picture of myself in a traditional Cree Dress!  That place, the stories, and the people who shared their lives with me for those two weeks will be with me always. 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my treasures!