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
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.
Qilauti (Drum)
The traditional drum was made of drift wood that a man would often find in the water while sailing his qajaq. The skin was made of a thin rawhide from a caribou stomach. The skin was wrapped with ivalu which is the sinew of a caribou back. The katuk (stick) was made from left over wood or antler and the thickest leather you could find either aiviq (walrus) or ujjuk (bearded seal) wrapped around. A modern drum is made of lumber, wax thread, nails, leather and glue. We invite David Serkoak, a long time drum dancer and drum maker to explain the process of making both a traditional and modern drum as well as teaching us the maintenance involved. He also shares the history of the qilauti (drum), the dance moves and the rituals surrounding the songs and performance.
Archive 04092IQ
Host: Verna Kadluk Segment 1: Mike Bruce of Rankin Inlet talks about what children used to play, like Uatamannaa, pretending to harpoon seal, Tilluujjuq, Iglukisaaq(Juggling) with song, Ajagaq(Bilboquet), Ujauttaq,(Rope Game). Segment 2: Matthew Kunangnat of Baker Lake talks about being safe in a workplace, like wear safety glasses and welding googles. Segment 3: John Nukik of Baker Lake talks about the hardship in hunting when he was growing up.
Bounties From The Sea
Rebecca Veevee prepares foods that are traditionally eaten by men and women. She boils a fish head with seaweed, which is a woman’s delicacy. For the men, Rebecca boils seal meat with red cabbage. She makes a sweet bannock with brown sugar and seaweed.
Auksaaq Family Feast
Malaya invites herself to her friends house where she helps prepare for a family feast of wonderful baked goods made with berries, caribou stir fry and natsiviminiq ujuq seal soup.
Kamik Making
Kamik making is very tedious and an incredible process. There are so many steps - from cleaning a seal skin, scrapping the fat off, drying it, stretching it, softening it, sizing it, cutting it, chewing it and then sewing it all together. We will follow Alicee Joamie in Iqaluit as she shows us the steps to make a pair of kamiks.