The month of June is the time of year that we get ready to go up north fishing for arctic char. Arctic Char are somewhat like salmon but are more like trout. Their insides are red in color but later, in the month of June, the arctic char changes its color to pink inside when they go out into the salt water.

We fish down around Nain for arctic char and earn a little money. We use the money to pay for expenses so we can get ready to go up north to Okak Bay. Some people would go to their own settlements to where they were born and fish at that spot for the rest of the summer. Others would go further up north like to Herbron and Saglek to fish.

I can remember the good times we had way up north. We would go hunting for duck eggs, go on a caribou hunt, go for a ride in the motor boat or go to have a good boil up. Sometimes we would go to a place to wait for seals and to see if we can spot a white whale. We children would have a lot of chores to do like chopping fire wood and fetching some water for our parents who would be cooking some arctic char, seal meat or ducks.

Written by Amos Joseph Atsatata.