Those Who Run In The Sky Pitu's Life Quotes

Throughout the novel, “Those Who Run In The Sky" by Aviaq Johnston, we see the decisions Pitu has made doesn't only affect himself. Pitu, our protagonist, hasprotagonist has decided to leave the ways of a hunter to become a great shaman. In Pitu's journey to becoming a shaman, he was advised by Tagaaq, the elder of the village who held that role of shaman before Pitu, to go find the great shaman who could cure incurable diseases. Tagaaq sent him on this quest because he had taught Pitu everything he could and he knew that Pitu could be an even greater shaman than he was. In the process of finding the great shaman Pitu got stuck in the spirit world due to a prodigious snow storm. Pitu getting stuck in the spirit world had a significant impact

The life of Saima has changed significantly throughout the novel due to Pitu’s absence from being happy to overwhelming sadness with regret. This is seen when Pitu is in the over world, which makes Saimahappy. This is shown in the quote, “Saima smiled warmly” (Aviaq Johnston 26) showing that she is happy that Pitu is there, further proving the fact that she was happy at the start of the book when Pitu is still in the over world. She even goes as far as asking for some of Pitus' catch that he got earlier that day even though her Dad caught enough for the family. This is stated by the author when Saima says, “But I would like some of your catch” (Aviaq Johnston 26) showing that she would prefer food from someone that she loves is more meaningful than getting it from a family member. Another example of Saima being happy that Pitu is there is when Pitu goes off to for his last hunting trip. This is a very significant part of the story because Saima is under the impression that she will get married when Pitu returns shown by the quote, “Saima beamed, a true smile” (Aviaq Johnston 77) showing that she's finally reached her life goal of being married to someone that she truly loves. The meaning of a true smile in this case shows that she is at the peak of her happiness and everything else was just a stepping stone. Her happiness is later destroyed when she is forced into marrying another hunter that previously asked her to marry him. Not only is this catastrophic to Pitu who travels back to the overworld to marry Saima she also has to live with someone who she truly doesn't love due to her family not having enough food to eat. This really distresses Saima because she has to tell the person who she dreamed of marrying for years that he can't marry her from the quote, “I didn't want to, Piturniq, okay” (Aviaq Johnston 195) then saying, “‘I am married to another man’, she cried”