This information was prepared by students of Aqsarniit Ilinniarvik, a middle school with approximately 230 students in grade six and seven. It is located in Iqaluit, the capital city and the largest community in Nunavut, situated on the southeast part of Baffin Island in Canada's eastern Arctic. Formerly known as Frobisher Bay, Iqaluit means "place of many fish". |
TRADITIONAL INUIT TOOLS | |
Name: Kakivak Purpose: Fishing Method: Spear the fish while they are in shallow water. |
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Name: Unaq Purpose: Hunting seals and whales Method: Thrown, end piece is embedded into animal which is attached to a long rope. The other end of the rope is held by the hunter or tied to a float. |
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Name: Nitsiq Purpose: Retrieve game from the water. Method: Kept on board boats and kayaks, sharp point is swung into seal and pulled on board. |
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Name: Ulu Purpose: Women's knife for cutting out skin clothing, boots. Used in preparing skins, general purpose cutting tool. Method: Crescent shaped knife used with either a slicing or a rocking motion. |
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Name: Qulliq Purpose: This stone lamp was filled with seal oil to provide heat and light for the home and for a cooking stove. Method: The lamp was carved from soapstone. A moss wick was added together with oil from any animal. A stick, know as a taqqut, helps to dip the wick into the oil to increase the flame. |
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