Poem by Tim Aqukkasuk Argetsinger
The Qargizine, Spring 2016 #3
Uqausiqput
Apqutini nunapayaani
Tusaaniqaqtuq
Anchoragegum apqutiŋiññi
Seattle-mi
Ottawa-mi
Montreal-mi
Copenhagen-milu
Iñuuqativut
Apqutini iñuuruat
Nagliksaaġniqsut
Iñuuniaġniqsuat
Uqausiqput uumapkaġaat
Kiñaiḷvit?
Kinauvit?
Kinaavit?
Apiqsruġaaŋa
Nunaptiknin uŋasiksut
Nunaaqqiptinniñ uŋasiksut
Iñuuqativut
Makua apqutini iñuuruat
Natchiġñik
Annuġaagitchut
Kasimayyaqtaŋitchut
Qiḷautit qiñiġnaitchut niviŋaŋitchut
Igluŋisa katchiŋiññi
Iñupiaŋuruŋa kiusuugitka
Iliptuntauq
Iñuuqativut
Makua apqutini iñuuruat
Nagliksaaġniqsut
Iñuuniaġniqsuat
Tammaqturguuq
Aasii uvva qanuqitpisali?
Iñuuqativut
Makua apqutini iñuuruat
Uqausiqput uumapkaġaat
Our language is heard on the streets
All over the world
On the streets of Anchorage
Seattle
Ottawa
Montreal
and Copenhagen
Our fellow Inuit The ones who live on the streets
The ones who have suffered
The ones who have survived
They are keeping our language alive
Who are you? (Iñupiatun)
Who are you? (Inuktitut)
Who are you? (Greenlandic)
I am asked
They are far from our homeland
They are far from our communities
Our fellow Inuit These ones living on the streets
They don’t dress in
Sealskin
They don’t go to conferences
They don’t have drums hanging
on the walls of their houses
I am a real person I answer them
Like you
Our fellow Inuit The ones living on the streets
The ones who have suffered
The ones who have survived
It is said that they are lost
But what about us?
Our fellow Inuit The ones who live on the street
They are keeping our language alive
