The hunter made the thicker ropes out of bearded sealskin, and braided sinew thread for thinner but strong rope. In those days, men were expected to make all their own hunting and working tools and animal hide processing tools. I recall when my father Marc Tungilik had all his traditional tools that he had made. It will give you an idea what they look like and how these tools were all handmade and so essential for an easier way of life back in the days.
I would like to start by showing and introducing to you replicas of old Inuit tools made and owned by an elder of Rankin Inlet, Aupilardjuk.
After all there were no stores one could go to buy these things. The history of Inuit handmade products goes a very long way back, even before the arrival of James Houston who is often recognized as the person who helped Inuit become known for their artistic and creative skills in the early 1950s.īefore the arrival of non-Inuit into our territory bringing in merchants, Inuit had to be very innovative and skilled at producing their own traditional hunting and working tools, and toys for their young ones. Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario February 10, 2011
