My last post was to set the situation for this post or was this story setting the last post? Well, I don't know but they are related.
My last post told about a very cruel story where Inuit were moved to a very inhospitable area against their will.
One of the children in that move in 1953 died a few weeks ago at age 78.
Markoosie Patsauq was 12 years old when his family was taken to Resolute Bay by the C.D. Howe icebreaker.
The next year when the icebreaker came back and did a health check they found that Markoosie had tuberculosis. Markoosie was taken to Manitoba Canada which was 2766 km from Resolute Bay. So a year after one drastic change Markoosie experienced another change. Markoosie went to school and learned English while being treated for TB.
Now they didn't send Markoosie back to Resolute but instead sent him to highschool in Yellowknife NWT which was 2794 km from Manitoba. After highschool Markoosie was the first Inuk to get a pilot's licence and did bush flying up and down the eastern coast of Hudson Bay.
What did Markoosie do after flying? He was the first Inuk to write novel! Harpoon of the Hunter was first written in syllabics . It was translated into English and several other languages. It's never been out of print.
That's a major accomplishment by someone who had many challenges to face in life.
I'm looking forward to finding Markoosie's story.
It's good to know that someone out of that human tragedy did well in life. I guess it shows the role luck and opportunity play in a young person's life.
ReplyDeleteThe guy had a terrific amount of riciliance.
Deletevery interesting
ReplyDeleteHe was certainly a leader.
DeleteWow! The huge challenges and fears Markoosie must have faced. I admire people like him.
ReplyDeleteHe has to be admired.
DeleteMarkoosie must have been an extremely resilient person to have gone through all that and come out well on the other side. (I take it his family didn't go with him on his moves.) Some folks seem to take change easier than others do, but it still seems like a heart-wrenching situation.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen anything about his family. Many inuit impressed me with their leadership ability
DeleteThat is an amazing story! I hope he was able to maintain contact with his parents and siblngs. I read the article you linked and found it very interesting as well.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen anything about his family and what happened to them.
DeleteQuite accomplished.
ReplyDeleteHe was one tough character.
DeleteYou said that Markoosie spent a part of his life "bush flying". How on earth did he manage to a fly a bush and why didn't he use a plane instead?
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll explain that. We talk about stir frying, fly tying , kite flying. Same language structure. Here flying operations that use floats in the summer and skis in the winter are known as bush operations!
DeleteAlways the teacher. Thank you for explaining Mr Kline.
DeleteHello, sounds like Markoosie had a great life. I am glad he did well. Take care and have a great day. Wishing you a great new week!
ReplyDeleteMarkoosie influenced many lives by his example.
DeleteThat is pretty inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHe shows us up!
DeleteThis should be made into a movie.
ReplyDeleteGood idea.
DeleteI loved reading this. Now I want to know more about Markoosie. He sounds like quite a human being.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to check with Mr Internet to see if there's anything else about him.
DeleteSo was it bad that he was ripped from his family, or good that the made it out? Lots of bad things happened in the past. Hopefully, we can learn some of the lessons.
ReplyDeleteOne wonders what might have happened if he didn't have all the challenges.
DeleteHe triumphed! Despite the horrors they put him through. So many are just terrible to minorities and I cannot figure out why. All people just want a happy life with good health and family and friends. Why can't we just get along?
ReplyDeleteMoney and power are two things that make people inhumane to others.
DeleteVery interesting story. He was a very inspiring person.
ReplyDeleteHe was looked up to but I wonder how many accomplished things as he did.
DeleteI’d like to read that one too.
ReplyDeleteI've got to check and see where you can get his book.
DeleteInteresting story.
ReplyDeleteInspiring.
DeleteWithout knowing the man, it's difficult to hang our adjectives on him. The first that sprang to mine was resolute, but to what end. To overcome tuberculosis? To learn English? To get a pilot's license? I'm anxious to read any more you learn about the man and his life.
ReplyDeleteI like the choice of adjective you use as he was taken to Resolute bay!
DeleteA very inspiring person indeed. Thanks, Red, for the story.
ReplyDeleteLiving where he lived and worked was also a challenge.
DeleteThanks for that inspirational story, Red. It's heart-warming to hear how people overcome such huge obstacles to make a success of their lives. I do hope he re-connected with his family though.
ReplyDeleteto write a never-out-of-print book is accomplishment already, never mind all the other things.
ReplyDeleteAs i read your post I wondered about his family, he was very young when he went away, did he see them again?
Wonderful to learn of this success story, Red. And it sounds like he had a full life! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou made no mention of a parent going with him , how terrifying it must have been at 12 years old and then on the high school too.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like TB was, oddly, a benefit to Markoosie. It transformed his life. Of course, I'm sure he lost a lot when he was relocated for care, too, so it's a balance.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this update, Red.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure there are many stories that came from this tragic situation. It’s nice that Markoosie’s was one with a fairly happy outcome, although I’m sure he suffered much along the way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing his story Red. He was an amazing man.
ReplyDeleteWhat a truly amazing man. Thank you for introducing us to him. I just looked him up online and saw his photo.
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience that must have been for him. Looks like he led quite an interesting life.
ReplyDeletewow this is such an inspiring story of an ordinary person whom life and his positive attitude led to an amazing living
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing dear Red ,i think such people are true heroes