Snow and Ice, Sinew and Ivory: Culture and Crafts of the Arctic

Eskimo baleen basket with diving whale finial of walrus ivory

Eskimo baleen basket with diving whale finial of walrus ivory

The winter landscape always seems so sparse – just trees and snow in every direction. It’s hard to imagine creating a life or a culture in such an environment, but that’s exactly what the Inuit and Yupik peoples of the Arctic regions have done. With very little wood, actually, and in fact with very few materials of any sort that aren’t derived from the creatures they hunt, these groups have created an amazingly rich culture. Just imagine that: creating a whole way of life complete with clothing, tools, and transportation, with little more than small bits of wood and the bones, fur and hides of the creatures around you.

At this point, it’s worth mentioning that while we often hear the word “Eskimo” used to describe these cultures, the term is not universally accepted. There is some debate over the origin and original meaning of Eskimo, and while most linguists don’t ascribe any pejorative meaning to it, since it is not how the people refer to themselves it is considered by some Inuits to be a pejorative. The cultures are actually very distinct, especially by region, and whenever possible, we attempt to identify with the appropriate tribal name. Sadly, with little variation in materials and techniques, once these objects are removed from their context, they are not always easily identified as Yupik or Inuit, the two largest cultures of the Arctic. Thus, Eskimo remains the most common all-inclusive term, so we use it when we don’t have another option.

Anyway, perhaps objects like seal gut parkas and walrus skin pouches aren’t particularly amazing, but it’s hard not to be impressed by baleen sleds. Yes, baleen – a whole sled made from plates from a whale’s mouth! (Baleen really is an amazing thing; you can read our reference note about it here.) Some of my favorite objects are snow goggles, eye coverings of bone or wood with small slits to help protect the eyes from blowing snow and ice and to cut down on the glare. There are utilitarian objects like adzes, moccasins, and bowls, as well as more creative objects like ceremonial masks and cribbage boards. In later years, as tourism opened up in the region, handcrafts, like beautiful soapstone carvings, and, my favorite, baleen baskets with ivory finials, like the one pictured above, became popular. They’re all the more amazing when you place them in the context of an Arctic landscape!

-Hollie Davis, Senior Editor, p4A.com

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