The demolition of the old, old Northern Store in Salluit took place yesterday. It was raining and blustery and the darkness of the day somehow seemed necessary as we watched the destruction of a community landmark. This was the oldest building in town and had originally been located on Wolstenholm Island, way out in Hudson’s Straight. From what I hear it was moved here when the Hudson’s Bay Company relocated to the mainland about 70 years ago. At that point in history these communities were visited once annually by supply ships, which carried everything needed to survive another year. Even though the Inuit had survived quite nicely without our interference for thousands of years us outsiders needed more than was locally available in order to survive in this climate. Other than local foods available to the hunters everything from tea, needles, cloth, pots and pans and everything else that we would take for granted had to be brought in by annual supply ship. That included only getting your mail once a year, so don’t complain any more about Canada Post service! 
It was a sad day indeed as 70+ years of history was reduced to rubble in less than 15 minutes but as a community elder reminded me... "The old must make way for the young."
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