The Abandoned Woman The Creation of Marble Island
Uarik and his family lived near Rankin Inlet, as did many families who followed the caribou. After several years the caribou moved on, so the family decided to follow as well, all except an old woman who refused. She wanted to live on the ice which looked like a beautiful island. Sitting on the shore, she wished for the ice to turn into an island upon which she would live.
A couple years later Uarik returned looking for the woman. Unable to find her, he heard her voice saying to not worry, that her spirit now lived on the island of marble. In fact, during the summer on clear days, it looks like an island of ice.
When visitors arrive, they must crawl a few feet onto the island as a sign of respect to the old woman’s spirit. It is believed that if you don’t, you will die a year to the day you set foot upon Marble Island.
Above: Peregrine falcon chicks are one of many birds make the island their home.
The legends vary but all tell of the island’s mysteri- ous materialization. Since the sea floor has been rising approximately one inch per year since the last ice age, this legend may be based on fact.
Below: Dead Man’s Island located adjacent to Marble island is the site of historic graves of Knights men’s.
Part of a poem found in a glass bottle near George Verino’s grave (winter of 1878-9), a Canadian from the whaling ship George and Mary.
...My heart feels sad, for a shipmate lies low Who by death from his friends is exiled Having dug his grave where Few mortals have traveled Nor will for many a year And sigh for the anguish His mother will feel When his sorrowful tidings She’ll hear...
For my path lies over the deep May his remains rest in peace Till Jehovah’s last trumpet Summons him forth from sleep.
-- J. Fish 64 • Spring 2015 The Hub
Photo by Doug/Karen McLarty.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96