US History Northwest Passage

Today we read about the attempts by the British and French to find a northwest passage to the Orient. Many tries and many failures.

The kids learned how the sun shines 24 hours a day in the North Pole, and how poor Henry Hudson assumed that this would cause the ice up north to melt, allowing for ship passage. It makes sense, except that it doesnt work that way.

Champlain founded Quebec after many trips back and forth between what is now Canada along the St. Lawrence river and France. Interestingly, his strategy for creating a successful colony was to encourage inter-racial marriage amongst the French and Native Peoples. Interesting when we compare this to the strategies used in our own country, the U. S.

The kids also played some traditional games of the native people.

The sun shines 24 hours a day during the North Pole Summer.

Little Brother plays Zeus and casts lightening bolts down upon the Earth.

Measuring for the game, Nautak. Feet go flat against the wall and you measure your height along the floor.

Then you try to jump the distance that is your height (marked in tape) from where your feet were. Its fair this way. Taller kids who can jump further must jump their own hieght!

This game is called Qijumik Akimitaijuk Itigaminak. Did you get that?
You try to jump while holding on to your toes. I think this might be what Inuit parents told their kids to do when they needed time alone, because this is impossible. But it kept the kids busy for some time.

A juggling game, Illukitaq, requires the player to keep at least one object in the air.