We miss you dearly, anikuluapik

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

On Dec. 9 2009, my 56-year-old brother, Adamie Alariaq Nutaraluk, suddenly left us in the night.

I didn’t get a chance to say good bye to him when I left for a medical appointment in Ottawa a week before it happened, knowing someone from our family would notify him about my absence, but in the end I did say, “Good-bye anikuluapik RIP.”

I know saying thank-you eem so tiny, but I would like to thank the following people and agencies who helped us during our time of mourning: Annie Nattaq and Koomook Mclister for calling and being there for me in Ottawa and the tireless effort of Sapatie Ell and Joe Sagiatuk for raising some money for four of his six children to come and attend his funeral.

Akuluk, and sorry to his wife Nellie Nutaraluk in Kuujuaraapik and two of his children, Moses and Louisa, who didn’t get a chance to come.

Thank you to the EMT who responded to the call and to the doctor and emergency staff at Qikiqtani Regional Hospital for trying to revive him. Thank you to all the people who sent prayers and to people who gave us food and flowers.

In closing, I would like you to imagine a two to three-year-old boy in his mothers amautik near a DC-3 plane. All of a sudden the boy is taken from his mother’s amautik, then placed on a seat and the door is closed. Off he goes, far away from his parents.

That was Adamie when he was a child. They flew him to a southern hospital for tuberculosis.

When he was incarcerated back in 2004 or 2005, he was sent to Hay River from Yellowknife to attend a detox and healing centre. He flew on the same kind of plane and had a flashback to when he was a child. He said he sat in the same spot.

He had tears running down his eyes when he told us about it.

God bless your soul, anikuluapik. We miss you dearly, but we know you are at peace now. Akuluk.

Qujannamiik on behalf on the Nutaraluk and Pillaktuaq families.

Elisapee Nutaraluk
Iqaluit

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