In most ways I travel pretty light. I don't keep many things. I keep photos but not much else. I don't keep books or papers like programs, invitations or small newspaper clipping.
What I'm about to tell you is something that has followed me and is still with me.
From 1967 to 69 I taught in the small , isolated community of Wakeham Bay Quebec. The school had only ben open for five years when I got there. So for the older kids , they'd only been in school for five years. So in my class of 14 I had students from age 12 to 19. These kids were working at a gr 4 to 6 level. It was all English which was wrong.
However, I did what the powers that be told me. One of the projects I did was to have the kids write a friendly letter. Not a letter to be handed in and graded, but a letter sent to a real person. At that time my youngest brother was 13. I had these kids write to my brother David. I can't remember if David wrote to all of them or if kids from his class wrote them.
So when David was about 50 , he brought all the students letters out and asked me if I wanted them. What a shock! I'd forgotten about this project.
So I have these letters from Feb. 8, 1968. What do I do with them?
So I scanned Nuluki's letter for and example.
did your brother write him back??
ReplyDeleteDave did write back and I remember them sharing their letter with other kids.
DeleteWhat a wonderful box of old letters. Is it possible to find some of those students from so long ago and send them copies (or originals) of the letters? They might enjoy seeing a glimpse of their much younger selves.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought about this. I've not had any contact since I left. These kids would be in their 70's. I'm not sure how many would be left or living in the same area.
DeleteWhat a lovely keepsake and so interesting! Rae
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks to my brother I have them. I guess they were special to him as he kept them.
DeleteWhat a nice reminder for you. Interesting that the boy called himself an Eskimo.
ReplyDeleteThis was 1968 in the good old days. The white man hadn't found out he was wrong in the terms he used. the Inuit said what the white man said.
DeleteThat is so sweet! You have had an amazing career.
ReplyDeleteI've used letters for a project at other times. this one was different. We still had snail mail back then. Actually it was by bush plane.
DeleteWhat a wonderful reminder from your life as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI've forgotten most of the things I did. I kept very few things.
DeleteIs the school still there? They might enjoy having the letters returned so they can try to find the students or their relatives to pass them on to...
ReplyDeleteThe school is still there but many times larger. There are a few mights to do such a project as this.
DeleteThis is such a wonderful project. And what a beautiful memory for you. I think it's great that you can scan this memory because it's definitely a keeper.
ReplyDeleteLetters can be used to teach a number of different skills.
DeleteMy gosh, what an isolated place to teach and live!
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely one of the best times in my life. I learned so much and it changed my life forever.
DeleteI think those letters are a real treasure. Perhaps a library or museum would like to add them to their collections. That was a good project for those kids. Perhaps their community would enjoy reading them now.
ReplyDeleteI've thought of your last suggestion. Tracing people down would be difficult. Girls would have a different name. They also change the spelling of their name and in many cases changed names.
DeleteI too wonder if you could find any of these students to see what became of them. Very interesting letter!
ReplyDelete@0 or 30 years ago a return of letters might have worked.
DeleteThat’s a treasure! I wonder where he is today?
ReplyDeleteSince I've had no contact it's hard to say where he might be. His father was one of the best hunters.
DeleteI would certainly keep them. Perhaps the school would like them.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was going to throw them away. Now, I think I'll keep them.
DeleteNice letter!
ReplyDeleteNuluki said that he liked to hunt the seal and that his house was big "like a dream". If he is still alive, he will be fast approaching the age of seventy - just like me.
ReplyDeleteI've had no contact since I left. His family had just got a three bedroom house where most of the other people had a one room 600 sq. ft. house.
DeleteIt was a nice project, the letters are keepers. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI was going to throw them away but I think I will keep them.
DeleteJoanne has it right. Talk to the school. I will bet that the grandchildren of these children are attending the self same school. I'll bet that the school (or the community) could do a display. It would be terribly exciting for kids and adults to find their relatives (or even themselves) in these old letters. If you do such a thing, you should let us know what happens though.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good suggestion. I'm not sure how many of these students are still alive.
DeleteVery interesting. It would sure be a joy to read through letters like the one you shared. Especially for teachers like ourselves. I had to look up Wakeham Bay. Discovered a pretty neat link. I don't know if I can pronounce the Inuktitut name: Kangiqsujuaq. Neat post, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttps://g.co/kgs/T1m6j1
I know for sure I couldn't pronounce the new name. We flew 900 miles from Montreal to Fort Chimo and then another 300 miles in a small aircraft to Wakeham Bay. .
DeleteWhat a great project. Such fun memories!
ReplyDeleteI've used letters for other projects as well.
DeleteSuch a different time. Great Idea having them write letters. I wonder what Dave thought about it ?
ReplyDeletebarb
It was different. I've used the letter for other projects. Dave must have been impressed as he kept the letters.
DeleteGosh Mr. Red, don't throw them away! Surely the nearest town, the school that exists in its place, or a regional genealogy society or Native American Indian organization would love those. Especially if the writers' children or grandkids could see them! I cherish any handwritten letter, note or recipe from those who've died as it seems the closest I can get to them. And you still taught cursive! I having trouble handling that the Hudson Bay Company still owned some of the area back in 1967. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThis was a very, very long time ago. Things were very different. So yes, cursive writing is what was taught and used. The Hudson bay didn't own any land but they still had a fur trading business at that time. The land was taken by the govt. in the 1800's. The Hudson bay was given much land to sell for giving up the rights to the land they controlled.
DeleteThey may have grandchildren who would like these if you are willing to do the work to find them.
ReplyDeleteA good memory.
ReplyDeleteThese are a treasure!
ReplyDeleteOh this is such lovely post!
ReplyDeleteYou tell some really heatwarming stories dear Red
How nice he wrote them back