Not to Worry
by Ed Ogle

In the interest of speeding communications with native settlements, NWT Commissioner Stuart Hodgson leased a jet. The first time he used it in landing at one of the central Arctic Eskimo settlements, the Eskimos took it in stride but not exactly the right stride.

When the commissioner got out of the plane and started to say hello to some of his old Eskimo friends, one of the community's leaders spoke up. "Don't worry, Mr. Commissioner, our boys are out looking for them now."

"Looking for what?", Hodgsom asked.

"Your propellers", the elder said. "We noticed as soon as we could see your plane that they were missing.

Background Information

Talk about technology and how easy it is to be unfamiliar with new things. Also talk about living in rural areas, away from cities and even towns. Would you know about new things if you never saw them?

Questions

1. What does NWT stand for?

2. What was the NWT Commissioner's name?

3. What is another word for Eskimo?

4. How do you think that leasing a jet would speed communications with native peoples?

5. Where is the central Arctic?

6. Why were the people looking for propellers?

7. What is an elder?

8. What is a commissioner?

9. Do you think the Eskimos had ever seen a jet?

10. Why do you think the commissioner wanted to speed communications with the Eskimo settlements?