GROSS ALERT
If you don't like gross stuff stop reading now!
At my Arctic post in northern Quebec, I was teacher, school principal and Local administrator for the federal government. I was extremely busy but loved the work.
From time to time government people came through and had to stay at my place as there were no facilities in the settlement of 200 people.
One of the people who came through and stayed for seven days was Fred Breumer who is a well known photographer of northern subjects. He also knew a tremendous amount about everything Arctic. Fred was given the Order of Canada . Fred had come to the area to photograph petroglyphs. These were the only known petroglyphs in the Arctic. An article was written in the Beaver magazine on the petroglyphs.
Fred went through the second world war as a young person. He was in a camp and it's very hard to read his story.
The federal government gave Fred permission to take any of their flights that had a space.
So one day fellow walked up to the house from the airplane. He told us who he was and asked for a place to stay. He was a helpful guest and offered to pay. Fred was there to photograph petroglyphs which were the only known ones in the arctic.
So he spent days helping in the house with my wife. She says he was the most interesting person she ever met.
Another of Fred's escapades was to spend 3 winter months in the Keewatin area with several families. . Fred promised that he would live as the Inuit did and work and hunt. He would eat all country food.
In the spring there were caribou. The eggs of some flies were laid on the backs of the caribou in the summer and incubated under the skin. In the spring time the eggs laid by the flies were in the larva stage and when large enough the larva popped out of the caribou skin. Now what Fred didn't know is that the larva or maggot was a delicacy. The Inuit loved them and ate them like candy. Fred said it's one thing he just couldn't eat. It's the only thing he didn't eat while he was with the group.
Check out Fred's books in your local library. He also wrote numerous magazine articles. Check out his biography,
Absolutely fascinating! I don’t think I could have eaten that delicacy either and I am open to trying most things but my line would be drawn there. I would have enjoyed conversations with this photographer and will look out for his books. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteYou could talk to Fred all day. His books are very interesting.
DeleteFred braved the Arctic, its wild and its lore,
ReplyDeleteBut maggots as candy—he just could not explore!
Have a great day Red! 😊
Well put. Everybody would like spending time with Fred.
Delete"The few rock art sites discovered in the Canadian Arctic are all located in the Kangirsujuaq area on Qikirtaaluk Island, Nunavik. They contain petroglyphs that only represent full faces, with human, animal or hybrid features. The carvings were probably made by the Dorset people, which occupied the Arctic between 500 BCE and 1500 CE." - copied from The Canadian Encyclopedia. I hope that Fred Bremner did not get up to any monkey business with Jean when you were out of the house.
ReplyDeleteThis site was about 20 miles from us. I was at Qikirttaaluk but not to the petroglyphs. Check out the article in the Beaver.
DeleteHe sounds a most fascinating character and far more interesting than most slebs.
ReplyDeleteI would have drawn the line at the maggots, too, though they're very nutritious.
It's odd - if they were many times larger, with four legs, fur and warm blood, they would be welcomed!
You could listen to Fred hour after hour. He had many very interesting experiences and was a great story teller.
DeleteLiving up there gave you so many experiences.
ReplyDeleteAll these things were literally just outside your door.
DeleteWhat an interesting guy. I would not have been able to eat maggots, either. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteFred was a great story teller so the maggot story got interesting.
DeleteI agree with Fred and wouldn't want to eat that either! Another great story, Red!
ReplyDeleteFred was a great story teller.
DeleteI have eaten everything put before me except for one, so I would probably give a magot a go if presented with one in situ. The one thing I haven't tried when given the option was balut, a Filipino delicacy of a fertilized and partially developed duck/chicken egg that is boiled and served. I have resolved to try one the next time I'm in country but I wasn't able to pull the trigger the first time.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things deemed edible which are strange to us.
DeleteNo, I couldn't eat the bugs or their eggs, I agree with Fred.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a great weekend.
I don't eat bugs either. On the farm we saw many maggots on cattle. They ruin the hides.
DeleteI'm with Fred, too. No fan of fly maggots.
ReplyDeleteFred told a good story.
DeleteI don't think I'd want to eat them either!
ReplyDeleteYou're with everybody else.
DeleteAn experience a person would never forget.
ReplyDeleteEven him telling the story is unforgettable.
DeleteNope not magots:( Fred sounds like an interesting guy!
ReplyDeleteTry and look him up on line. Some of his material should be in the library.
DeleteI’d be with Fred when it came to the maggots. If I was starving on the other hand…
ReplyDeleteVery interesting visitor.
ReplyDeleteWell, that was gross indeed. But then culinary practices are based on where you lived and what food sorces you had. The French love snails. I wouldn't eat them.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame Fred one bit, I think you'd have to be starving to try that!
ReplyDeleteFred sounded really interesting person through this read dear Red 👍
ReplyDeleteI bet you have had some awesome conversations with him. I have watched a discovery show long time ago and a solo man would try to survive through harsh conditions and eat things that blow mind totally. That helped me to understand how Fred was ready to eat odd things