The ethnographic collection here at Luther College is very fortunate to have an extensive assortment of material culture from the Inupiat people of Alaska. A large majority of this collection was donated to the college by Luther alumnus Reverend T. L. Brevig, who was a Christian missionary in this region during the end of the 19th century. One interesting object that he brought back was a needle case carved with images from the Inupiat’s everyday life. This needle case is a 13.5 cm long, hollowed out bone with a wooden plug in one end. These cases were used to hold needles that were typically made from bone, antler or ivory. On the case itself are a variety of carved images. One side shows a western-style house along with a shed, dogs, and a person with two hides.
The other side depicts an igloo, shed, and drying rack for fish or caribou.
In the Inupiat culture it is typically the women who make and repair clothing, and such cases were a common part of every woman’s personal effects. The Inupiat women were very able seamstresses, which Brevig comments on several times in his memoirs. Since it was virtually impossible to survive in the harsh arctic environment without adequate clothing, it was very important to be skillful at sewing. Because of this importance, needles - and needle cases - were especially significant and special to the women to which they belonged, which can be seen in the care and attention shown in the decoration.
Generally, traditional Inupiat clothing consisted of a parka, trousers, boots and mittens. Men and women usually had the same clothing, but it would differ in regard to cut and trim. The socks were woven from grass for insulation, while most of the other clothing was made from either sealskin or caribou hides. In addition to clothing, women also used their needles and sewing skills to make tent and boat covers, bags, storage containers, and sleeping bags. Needless to say, the Inupiat women always had something to keep them busy!
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