Big Salmon Lake kalugruak

For someone not yet having reached adulthood, this girl had many opinions. Her pointed remark may have stemmed from the pain of loss, so Kilgitsuk let it slide, and was somber as she spoke of replacement as if an offered meal could do any such thing. He held his tongue, though wished to correct her on her assumption, and waited until she had moved on to speaking of the trade.

No, no, nothing like that, Kilgitsuk almost laughed at the absurdity of her suggestion. Did he look like the kind of man to steal children from their families? (He thought of his own sons, and his wife who had taken one of them away, and was startled by the sudden memory, swallowing it down.) I only offered as a kindness. The food would not bring anyone back - that is not the purpose. It is only meant to make life easier so that the family has time to grieve without worry over such things themselves. But what of his trade specifically? I am to bring deer meat to your village; I never specified what I would get in return, as I only wished to spread kindness.

Had there been anyone else to meet him at the border that day, he would have made a proper trade.

I have asked for permissions before, to hunt on the land otherwise reserved for a village; payment, sometimes, in the form of fine furs or rare things; or sometimes I am given jobs to do. The culling of pests or the transport of messages. All of these things were offered to smaller homesteads in the north as he had traveled. Now that Kilgitsuk was here in the Wilds again, the trades were different.