Indigenous Fishing and Hunting
Fishing and hunting are very important aspects of Inuit life, as it provides food and materials for everyday life. Fishing was often conducted in the summer whilst the hunting of large sea mammals was more common during the winter. Fish are an important resource of Baffin Bay and are essential to Inuit culture.
Fishermen travel on small kayaks, much like the one pictured below [1], whilst navigating the area. The image seen below is one of a 21 foot long one man kayak made of wood and seal skin. The artifact was made by an unknown indigenous maker in the Eastern Arctic. Kayaks are long and slender - made to protect hunters and fisherman from seasprays, waves and nature's other elements. Kayaks such as these aree often very lightweight, so that its user can carry it over their head without much effort when moving over ice. They can comfortably carry all necessary weapons as well as the fisherman themselves. Inuit hunters will also often wear watertight jackets that wrap around the rim of the manhole to keep themselves and their weapons dry. The shape and design of kayaks vary between various Arctic regions, and are often specifically built to withstand the specific environmental conditions of the local area. Kayaks were, and still are an important part of Inuit hunting culture, especially in Baffin Bay, where fish are an important resource [2].
Traditional methods of fishing often include using one's hands, fishing spears and harpoons. Spears, like the one pictured to the bottom left [3] are made of driftwood, iron and walrus ivory are used to bore holes in the ice to access the fish-filled water below. Then, a lure - expertly made using sliced leather or animal sinew - with a hook carrying bait at the end is let down into the water. Fish swim towards the hook, intriguied by the bait. Then, the hunter expertly plunges a three-pronged spear, much like the one pictured on the upper left to catch the fish [4]. The fish then gets caught between the three prongs, and the hunter gathers the fish.
Fish weir are another ingenious way that Inuit used to hunt fish from the mouths of rivers. They are created by building a crescent-shaped stone wall around the mouth of a river so that it could trap fish. There is be a small opening in the wall, allowing an on-shore watcher to observe the presence of fins and in turn fish. Once there is a steady stream of fish entering the weir, the watcher notifies fisherman, who arrive and use spears and harpoons to catch the fish.
During seasons of abundance, fish are stored in caches for preservation and to prevent any local wildlife from consuming it. They were made by creating stone boxes out of nearby rocks. Frozen fish would then be placed inside before being covered up. When needed, the fisherman would go back to the hiding place and gather the fish. Occasionally, when built incorrectly, bears can get to the fish and steal the food, affecting food access for families [5].
Fishing is also an important cultural aspect of Inuit life. They believe that an abundance of fish is due to a blessing from Sedena - mother of the sea. There is also much traditional associated with an Inuit girl's first catch. It is believed that a girl should drop her first ever catch down her parka. This is done due to the belief that this will help ensure a fast and problem free delivery of her first child. Fathers also often take their young sons out fishing in order to teach them the lifestyle. Using spears to hunt for fish requires a lot of skill, mastery and precision. Therefore, sons are often brought up in close proximity to fishing, so that they can learn from their fathers.
The preparation and consumption of fish is also considered to be important. Often, fish is eaten raw, with the liver and eyeballs being particularly sought after. Although the fish is sometimes cooked, this is actually a relatively new method of consumption. During the warmer months, fish needs to be dried in order to prevent decomposition and rotting. Therefore, a pole is hung between large rocks. The fish is then layed on the pole and allowed to dry using the sun and wind. The finished product can be hot or cold smoked, candied or jerkied, and is considered to be a delicacy of the North [6].
Sources:
[1] Hood Museum. (1947). One Man Kayak (21 feet long). In Hood Museum. https://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/objects/47.30.10865
[2] Canadian Museum of History. (n.d.). Native Watercraft - Kayaks. Www.historymuseum.ca. https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/aborig/watercraft/wak01eng.html
[3] Hood Museaum. (1939). Spear. In Hood Museum. https://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/objects/39.70.7904
[4] Hood Museum. (1990). Fishing Spear or Leister. In Hood Museum. https://hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu/objects/158.25.14219
[5] Alaska Extreme. (2017). Tuktu- 9- The Magic Spear (Amazing Inuit skills at fishing and hunting by spear). In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sdJA1M0XcQ
[6] Travel Nunavut. (n.d.). Nunavut Fishing Traditions | Travel Nunavut. Travel Nunavut. https://travelnunavut.ca/things-to-see-do/fishing/nunavut-fishing-traditions/
The practice of seal hunting or sealing is an incredibly important practice to many Arctic Indigenous communities. For years, seals have provided food, clothing, energy, tools and trade. Even more importantly though, is the cultural and spiritual significance seals carry for indigenous peoples, as they have been a part of indigenous livelihood for centuries. In Baffin Bay, the bearded seal, harp seal and harbor seal are commonly hunted while the ringed seal is commonly traded or sold.
Before the arrival of Western cultures to Baffin Bay, Inuit peoples focused mainly on using seals for food and clothing. However, the arrival of Westerners facilitated a more economically-focused outlook on sealing. Because of seals' waterproof and dense skin, they were not only a hearty source of nutrition, but also a great source of warmth to Inuit people. According to Inuit belief, the seals made themselves available to the hunter, in turn providing the hunter the obligation to catch it. If the hunter failed to fulfill his duty and provide his people with the bounty of the seal, it would not present itself again. When the hunter shared the seal with his people, he could be sure that there would always be other seals to be caught, sustaining the local families and elders. This spiritual significance placed on the seal marked a greater sentiment in indigenous communities, which was that no matter the times, there would always be sustenance if the hunters were generous.
In that sense, the seals were able to be hunted year round, with hunters using boats in the summer and dog teams in the winter. Harpoons were the most effective weapon, but indigenous hunters always made sure to remain as respectful and ethical towards the seal as possible. The arrival of Westerners brought doubt to the traditional ways of sealing, as they questioned indigenous knowledge about the provision of the seal. Even so, indigenous value of the seal and their reliance on its bounty did not suffer, and its cultural ties remain intact today.
Sources:
[1] Markham, Albert Hastings, and Sherard Osborn. A Whaling Cruise to Baffin's Bay and the Gulf of Boothia: and an Account of the Rescue of the Crew of the "Polaris." 2nd ed. London: S. Low, Marston, Low, and Searle, 1875.
[2] University of Calgary. (June 1983). Arctic VOL.36.NO.2 P 162.173. A Distinctive Large Breeding Population of Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) Inhabiting the Baffin Bay Pack Ice. https://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca//arctic/arctic36-2-162.pdf