Uncle Jim was waiting on the dock to greet the strange little sailboat coming to Makkovik. James “Uncle Jim” Andersen, born in Makkovik in 1919. Artist, musician, photographer, film maker and a keeper of the history of Labrador, bright eyed Uncle Jim started slow, almost shyly, talking to Ken as I took on water. They were the usual questions; where ya from, where ya going and why did you come to Makkovik?
But then, bit by bit’ he began to open the treasure chest that was his life in the north.
“When ya get done here, why don’t you fellers come up to my house? I’ve got something for ya. It’s the one with the anchor just below the kitchen window. That anchor was pulled up by a fishing boat off Belle Isle 1950.”
We move the boat to a better moorage, secure her from the days sail from Double Island, and head down the road to Uncle Jim’s. He meets us at the door. Inside it truly was like entering a treasure chest of wonderful memories, photographs, books, and awards. Every picture tells a story. Father, mother, brother, sisters. Grandfathers and grandmothers, come to the new world form Norway in the 1800’s.
Uncle Jim played a DVD for us he had made of life on the land in Labrador. Beautiful people, many or most gone now, at work, at play. All living life on life’s terms. Enjoying the joy, bearing the sorry. That’s just the way it’s done.
Uncle Jim spoke so tenderly of his dear sister. How musical she was. How she had passed not long ago at 96. He gave me a magazine with an article he had wrote in tribute to her.
He gave me a book about his photographs. He gave me 4 DVDs of his films about life the way it was. He gave me smoke fish. Uncle Jim is a giver.
My only offering in return was to come back in the morning with my little slideshow of the trip thus far. He showed such interest, asking questions about the boat and the pictures, and what my life at sea was like.
A man like Uncle Jim should live a thousand years.
Ken and Uncle Jim
Uncle Jim and Tommy
