Tunniit (Traditional Tattoo)

Many Inuit mostly women are taking part in a revival of traditional Inuit tattoos. Traditionally, Inuit women, mostly in their teenage years received symbolic designs on their face and arms and sometimes on their legs as an expression of beauty. The tools used were made of caribou bone for stitching and poking. Stitching would be done with a bone needle and the thread made of sinew from the back of a caribou muscle soaked in natural ink such as soot of a burning traditional seal oil lamp. The needle would be used again when the tattoo was finished the needle would be stored in a seal skin cover with seal fat to protect it from getting dirty.

Seal Hunt

Malaya catches her first seal in the Qitiqmiut region with hunter Richard Akana. She brings some seal home to Iqaluit to share a meal with elder Enoapik Saagiatok

Rebecca Veevee - Seal with Seaweed Soup

Cooking seal with seaweed soup, seal intestine with vegetables and nutritional facts.

Hunters and trappers - Seal Skin

Hunters and trappers learn about the seal skin business in Canada and other countries. The quality of the seal skinning has to be the best quality to obtain the best price and handling the skins properly is crucial. The segment shows how to grade the quality of the skins and what to look for. With questions and answers on the topic.

Summer Seal

Rebecca and Malaya Qaunirq Chapman prepare a seal meat stew with tomatoes and peas, bannock fried in oil and mattaaq mixed with blueberries.

Archive 04072IQ

Host: Julie Ivalu Segment 1: Hannah Uyarak talks about how sinew was made. Hannah Uyarak talks about getting sinew from Narwhal back muscle, Caribou back and leg muscle, fox tail muscle and ring and bearded seal throat. Margaret Kipsigak and Madeline Ivalu demonstrate how sinew is made from Narwhal back muscle. Segment 2: Lydia Qalluttiaq Maliki making Traditional Inuit clothing from seal skin and dog fur scrapes.

Rebecca Veevee - Fried Seal

Cooking fried seal with fried potatoes, carrots, rice and with a vegetable with dip.

Rebecca Veevee - Seal Meat Pie

Cooking seal meat pie with pear and apple.

Rebbecca Veevee with Guest Sami

Guest Sami prepares seal flippers and Rebecca BBQ’s seal meat.

Rebecca Veevee - with Sami

Guest Sami prepares seal flippers and Rebecca barbecue’s seal meat