PREPARATIONS FOR THE HUNT
Inuit were dependent on the powers and forces of nature. To the hunters upholding good relations with the souls of the game animals was of great importance. They did so by observing taboos, rites and other customs.
Using magic amulets and symbols they sought to ensure good fortune in the hunt and to counteract all sorts of bad luck.
An amulet is an object which protects against illness, accident, dangers and witchcraft. It may also bring luck.
An amulet can be a feather, bones or stone. A walrus claw contains some of the walrus’s inua, and in this way the power and qualities of the walrus are transferred to the person who carries the claw sewn onto their clothes.
Take a good look at the picture. It is an amulet of a bird. Which bird is it? What qualities might it transfer to its owner?
A pigeon is a symbol of peace. Do you know any other symbols?
The Inuit said that women caught the animals, and men hunted them.
The woman, too, should observe taboos and rituals in order for her husband to have luck in hunting. She was the one who could attract the game animals with her respect for the precepts.
The woman also had to be good at sewing clothes. They should be both warm and beautiful to attract the animals.
A woman’s skill at sewing was therefore a decisive factor for her role in the community
What was the significance of women in relation to hunting?
The picture shows a man’s dress. What is it made of, and with what is it decorated? Find help at p. 59 in the book.
What did a woman’s dress look like?
Inuit were dependent on the powers and forces of nature. To the hunters upholding good relations with the souls of the game animals was of great importance. They did so by observing taboos, rites and other customs.
Using magic amulets and symbols they sought to ensure good fortune in the hunt and to counteract all sorts of bad luck.
An amulet is an object which protects against illness, accident, dangers and witchcraft. It may also bring luck.
An amulet can be a feather, bones or stone. A walrus claw contains some of the walrus’s inua, and in this way the power and qualities of the walrus are transferred to the person who carries the claw sewn onto their clothes.
Take a good look at the picture. It is an amulet of a bird. Which bird is it? What qualities might it transfer to its owner?
A pigeon is a symbol of peace. Do you know any other symbols?
The Inuit said that women caught the animals, and men hunted them.
The woman, too, should observe taboos and rituals in order for her husband to have luck in hunting. She was the one who could attract the game animals with her respect for the precepts.
The woman also had to be good at sewing clothes. They should be both warm and beautiful to attract the animals.
A woman’s skill at sewing was therefore a decisive factor for her role in the community
What was the significance of women in relation to hunting?
The picture shows a man’s dress. What is it made of, and with what is it decorated? Find help at p. 59 in the book.
What did a woman’s dress look like?
