Qiuraaq finds herself all alone when her husband disappears while hunting. Packing her baby boy in her parka, she sets off on a journey along Anderson River to its highlands. Each step she takes, the ground beneath her turns red…
There was nobody to be found. As she traveled and became tired, she took little stops.
Each time she stopped, the land and rocks beneath her turned red. This is why the area of Qatchik is still red today. The rocks all looked like they were dyed red, I have seen them.
Some people say the red is from Qiuraaq’s blood, and you can follow where she traveled by her blood trail. The trail goes right to the edge of the treeline and up to Nunaqpiat, the highland of the Anderson River.
The Nunaqpiat is vast and high. It took Qiuraaq a long time to reach the peak. When she arrived, she was overcome with grief and weariness. She sat down and immediately turned to stone.
Qiuraaq, the stone woman at the top of Anderson Peak is still there today. I have seen her. My father, Niulummaaluk, Akkaaluk, and Sagvayuaq brought me there.
Qiuraaq’s stone looks exactly like a woman sitting, with a dog by her side, and a baby in her hood. Today the dog’s head has fallen off, but you can still tell where its harness was.
Before there was church, Inuvialuit people would pray to Qiuraaq’s stone and place gifts before her. They would offer her needles, mukluks and ask her to bless them with good harvests and health.
If you ever travel by Nunaqpiat, the highland of the Anderson River, take a look at the peak and see if Qiuraaq is still there.
Offerings.
