Nanisiniq: Arviat History Project

Interview with Floyd “Bud” Neville - former Social Worker

by Amy Owingayak

Today, May 11 2011, Floyd Neville came to the Library and Archives Canada to meet the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project group. I, Amy Owingayak, did an interview with Bud to find out more information about what was going on in the Eastern Arctic during his time working as a Social Worker. So, the other researchers worked on the camera’s while I was doing the interview and also had Professor Tester to write down notes about what could be asked again after I interview Bud Neville. Furthermore, after the interview, the group (Amy, Curtis, Jordan, Martha, Patrick -Arviat researchers- April, Frank and Paule -from UBC) along with Bud had lunch together at the Library and Archives Canada. In the afternoon we were looking at some old photos around Eskimo Point now known as Arviat and it was good to see our elder Martha to recognize some people. Briefly, the whole day was pretty much about interviewing. Each of us had an interview with Beth, who works at the LAC (project naming) for their podcasting. Also, some of us had an interview with the CBC and it was great, our information was hopefully good because we have been busy looking through documents, photos and interviewing elders that were in the Arctic in the early 1950’s-60’s.

So, the interview with Bud went great. There was a lot of good information about relocations, Inuit health and what his job was as a Social Worker. For instance, the youth researchers have been looking into relocations and getting more information from someone who was around during that time was really important. Us researchers have learned that Inuit were relocated because of starvation. The Social Worker helped Inuit to live by relocating them to a different area where there might be some country food available. Also, if there was no country food to hunt, the social worker would help get some food from the Hudson’s Bay Company. More over, Inuit health was bad during the time because Inuit had lived in small shack housings with quiet a few people. The conditions of the shack houses were terrible; there was not enough room for washrooms, heating (furnace), etc so it was all in one small shack house that got everyone sick. During that time, there was measles, T.B, and other illnesses so Inuit were sent to southern hospitals where they were taken care of. Bud Neville who was the Social Worker was responsible for all of the relocations and taking care of the people who are in need so during that time, I bet it was difficult. It was great to get all the information about one of our topics in regards to the project that we are working on