MetaFilter posts tagged with inuit

Polar Bear Threat on "Ice".. Giving "Chills" To Environmentalist. Puns also deemed healthy

dogbusonline — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:27:43 -0800

We all know Polar Bears are at risk, right?
"Not so fast!" says a new study completed by the Government of Nunavut on the populations on the Western Coast of Hudson Bay. The populations are actually increasing in number.

This is something that has long been argued by Inuit who live in the area. (video) Inuit are chaulking this up as a win for Inuit Traditional Knowledge. The numbers are said to be confounding doomsayers. Facts on this topic for discussion: 1.) Canada recently joined most of the rest of the world in listing Polar Bears as a species of special concern, which essentially means a management plan must be developed. 2.) The polar bear is of economic and, most importantly cultural value to the Inuit of Nunavut. The hunt is <>extensively managed in Nunavut. 3.) The WWF has warned of boycotts, and says that it is taking the new polar bear numbers with a grain of salt. 4.) A recent MacCleans article on the topic We're Shooting Polar Bears?. (Release pre-recent Nunavut findings). Provides insight into mainstream Canadian media portrayl of Polar Bear populations. The question that really got me posting this article in first place, aside from a general information to MeFi readers is: How do you view aboriginal "traditional knowledge" claims when they are made? Does this change your view? Most importantly: What role does traditional knowledge play in such a science heavy world?

Broken Promises

dabug — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:27:03 -0800

High Arctic Relocation. In the 1950s several Inuit families were relocated from the relatively balmy Inukjuak, in northern Quebec, to settlements in what are now called Grise Fiord and Resolute in the far north of Canada with few resources to survive the extremely harsh climate. Ostensibly to reduce pressure on resources in Inukjuak, it has been suggested that the Canadian government wanted to establish settlements, concerned about sovereignty of the Arctic during the cold war. Last year, the government formally apologized. Shortly thereafter, two monuments were unveiled. YouTube excerpt of a 1995 documentary, Broken Promises.

Simon Tookome, artist and whipper

Kattullus — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:17:28 -0800

"I'm proud of being recognized as an artist, but I really want to be known as someone with a special talent for the whip." Simon Tookoome, who passed away last year, was justly celebrated as an artist in his lifetime. You can view 39 of his pieces in The Canadian Art Database (including my favorite of his, the sculpture Shaman Wolf). But whipping was closer to his heart, and in his prime may have been the world's greatest whipper. Sadly, I could find no video of him from before 2000 on the internet, but here he is at 72. You can read a description of him at his peak in this condescending Time article about the 1972 Arctic Winter Games. And you can watch a few more Simon Tookoome videos here.

They shot dogs, didn't they?

Bartonius — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:47:24 -0800

In the 50's and 60's, more than a thousand sled dogs were slaughtered by RCMP officers and provincial police, some of them killed in ad hoc gas chambers. A recent report from retired Quebec judge Jean-Jacques Croteau states that Ottawa and Quebec should apologize and compensate the affected communities for 'turning a blind eye' to the slaughter. You can hear Makivik President, Pita Aatami talking about it on CBC's As It Happens

A New York Minik

Pater Aletheias — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:49:34 -0800

Minik Wallace (ca. 1890 – October 29, 1918) was an Inuit who was brought to the United States of America from Greenland along with five other Inuit in 1897 by explorer Robert Peary. Orphaned in America around age six when his father died from tuberculosis, Minik was raised for a time by William Wallace, who worked for the American Museum of Natural History, and who was complicit in arranging for the bones of Minik's father to be displayed there with the label "Polar Eskimo." It would be more than a decade before he would again see his native Greenland His tragic story is told in the book Give Me My Father's Body by Kenn Harper; televised in this episode of American Experience; poignantly summarized by Nate DiMeo in the Memory Palace podcast, and sung by Piñataland in their song "If Ice Were Warm."

Throat sing the body electric

twoleftfeet — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:43:09 -0800

Throat singing is popular in Tuva and Siberia, but other people try it too. Like this guy or this guy or grace guy or some guy in a lake. You too can learn to throat sing. Genghis Blues is a great film about throat singing that has been mentioned previously and previously and previously.

The Things You Learn From Pop Culture

sy — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:10:11 -0800

No doubt many of you, like me, have recently seen The Simpsons Movie. I left wondering two things: why the movie was so terrible, and what in blazes is Inuit throat singing. The internet, to my pleasure and edification, was able to answer half of my questions.

see it while it lasts

heatherann — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:07:46 -0800

The Spirit Wrestler Gallery in Vancouver has an extensive online gallery featuring Artist Biographies and inspiration for many of the pieces. It focuses on First Nations art, sculpture, and jewelry from the Inuit, Northwest Coast nations, Canadian Plains nations, and the Maori. Some of these communities have a new lease on life due to the income from this market, while others are dying out and skills are being forgotten. Some favourites: Dog Team: Jobie Crow from Umiujaq, Summer Solstice: Pitaloosie Saila from Cape Dorset, Raven Releasing Salmon Transformation Mask: Tom Hunt of the Kwak-waka'wakw. (scroll sideways)

Tales from the northern service.

myopicman — Tue, 03 May 2005 22:14:02 -0800

Once upon a time, in the early eighties, one of the northern CBC Radio stations was vacated due to a strike. Vacated, except for one Inuit janitor and his friends...

same time, different channel

madamjujujive — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 06:32:10 -0800

Sometimes it's hard for me to conceive that other contemporaneous people on this planet lead lives so dramatically different from my own. What if this or this or this constituted your daily commute? Or if this or this were among the challenges you faced in your daily job? The native people and arctic wildlife galleries offer a glimpse of the past preserved. More wonders at Bryan & Cherry Alexander Photography.

The most renowned knife in Alaska

debralee — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:16:33 -0800

Ulus have been around for thousands of years. Originally created by Inuit craftsmen as a practical cutting tool, the ulu has evolved and is still in use today as a handy implement in the kitchen. But two ulus in a shoebox doesn't get you far. (Real Player video)

The Inuits didn't think it wasn't eco-friendly, so there nyah :-P

WolfDaddy — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 15:01:37 -0800

One of the truly indigenous American artforms is scrimshaw. The Inuits made some fascinating pieces, as did whalers more than 200 years ago. Today's scrimshanders are more sensitive to the materials used (either from extinct species--such as the mastodon!--or synthetic materials), and the artform is still going strong, perhaps even gaining in popularity in these modern times. I find it fascinating, intricate artwork, and history.

polar husky

specialk420 — Tue, 25 Nov 2003 09:13:00 -0800

An Educational Exploration of Nunavut. "Setting out to document arctic climate change we will dogsled the territory of Nunavut, meeting Inuit Elders and students, to explore traditional ecological knowledge in the remote communities visited along the trail while gathering scientific data daily from the field for NASA and Environment Canada." - a cool expedition to bring some attention to what many are describing as the greatest threat to mankind today.

mcwetboy — Tue, 05 Nov 2002 13:31:38 -0800

Maybe you're travelling to Nunavut, maybe you've just seen Atanarjuat, but for whatever reason, you're keen to learn some Inuktitut. Where to begin? Take a course if one is available in your area. Listen to some words and phrases. But unless you're heading to a region (PDF map) where the Inuinnaqtun dialect is spoken (it uses the Roman alphabet), you're going to need to use Inuktitut's syllabics. Download some fonts (another source, and another) -- you'll need them for many sites, including this Inuktitut language reader. Or try out this handy converter. Finally, the Living Dictionary is the definitive reference to this language.

Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner

madamjujujive — Sun, 22 Sep 2002 07:15:47 -0800

Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner is a spectacular Canadian film offering a rare glimpse into a rich aboriginal culture. It is written and produced by an independent Inuit film company and cast entirely with native actors from Igloolik, a settlement of about 1200 people in the Baffin region where it was filmed. Visually stunning, the story is based on local legend, with elements of stark realism, shamanism, suspense, humor and love. It's no surprise that it's raking in awards. I was spellbound. Can anyone recommend any other films by and about native cultures?

Japan leads move to cut whaling by Artic natives

rdr — Sat, 25 May 2002 00:15:52 -0800

Japan leads move to cut whaling by Artic natives [nytimes, reg. req.]. After being defeated in recent I.W.C. votes Japan wins one.