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Elders Mary and Tommy Kilaudluk
2000
Cambridge Bay, Victoria Island, Nunavut

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Tommy Kilaudluk was born in 1935 and grew up at Bathurst Inlet. He moved to Cambridge Bay in 1956 when he started working at the DEW Line. He married Mary Natik Kilaudluk in 1958, who also lived here; both still live in Cambridge Bay today.

He was very interested in the archaeology work that has been conducted for the past several years by Dr. M. Friesen of University of Toronto.
"When the archaeologist mentioned about this area (Iqaluktuuq) that there are a number of old sites which are quite large, even though it did not seem that way to us, I was amazed at how large they are. It was not a big surprise to me because I've often heard stories about them..."
Tommy Kilaudluk

His thoughts of the young people today, also reflects on how the Inuit culture is at risk.

"I just want to mention that our children now seem not to want to listen to how our ancestors lived long ago. Even for me, I've forgotten a few things about the old ways. And that is why recording our stories might be of help to people out there."

Tommy Kilaudluk

Mary Natik Kilaudluk was born in 1943. She grew up traveling with her parents between Bathurst Inlet and Contwoyto Lake a lot. She moved to Cambridge Bay during the mid-50s when her father started working at the DEW Line. She has this to add about the young generation today.

"I'd like to talk to the younger generation about long ago but it seems like now-a-days the youths do not want to listen and are ignorant of how our traditions were then...but hopefully one of these days they'll wake up and try not to forget the old ways of our fathers." Mary Kilaudluk

Interviewer David Pelly. 2001 at Iqaluktuuq