Inuit hunters

Two parties of hunters set off from the village. One group set off to catch a whale. The other group hunted seals and caribou. They left behind their wives and children. While they were away the children were forbidden to walk on bare ground, and they had to speak in a whisper. If they did not do these things then the hunt would fail.

The first group set out in their large umiak boat. The bowhead whales were so big that a single one fed several families for months. It also provided enough blubber for cooking, heating and lighting. The hunt was on. The harpooner was at the bow, the helmsman was at the stern, and several paddlers completed the crew. They approached the huge beast as it rose to breathe. The harpoon hit and the water turned red. More harpoons followed. The battle continued until the animal was too tired to fight. The final kill was made with slate-tipped lances.

The second group travelled over the ice on their komatik (sledge) pulled by eight dogs. They managed about 60 km a day. The caribou had moved to the seashore to escape the mosquitoes. The hunters dressed in caribou furs and stalked their prey. Their bows and arrows hit the caribou with deadly precision. These animals provided meat, furs, bone tools and sinew for sewing.

The hunt for seals was not so successful. Kayaks were used with harpoons. Some hunters used their dogs to sniff out breathing holes. Patiently they waited for the seals to come and breathe. However, as each seal had many holes, this proved a long wait.

The animals´ heads were cut off and "given a drink of water". These animals had to be treated with respect or else they would not allow themselves to be caught again after they were reborn. Then the meat and hides were prepared. Everything was used - even the brains were eaten.

James Green: Native peoples of the Americas, Oxford University Press, 1993, page 42 f.