| Summary: | The concept of turning nothing into something or making something into something extraordinary is exactly what Inuit have done for centuries for survival, function and purpose. Using materials from nature, reusing unutilized materials and recycling good materials to creating something useful is a way of life for many in the north. Inuit make things from by-products of hunted animals all the time such as tools, clothing, household items, and even devises for transportation. In this series we see the incredible things made traditionally made by Inuit and how we make and use our creations today. The Unaaq (Harpoon) has many uses for the Inuit, two main uses are for harpooning a catch such as seals at their breathing holes, walruses, whales and other sea and land animals such as caribou. This ancient weapon was also used to make sure the ice is safe, by harpooning the ice you will step on. For many years Inuit made this tool from animal bones and used dried walrus intestines cut up to make rope. Today, Inuit make their harpoons from what is readily available in modern technology such as steel rods for the fore shaft and their heads, the arrow from brass, steel or aluminum. A hunter from Iqaluit, Jerry Ell, will take us through the many steps to make a modern harpoon and he will also show us the way he makes an arrow.
|
|---|