Another arctic item from our ethnographic collection is a seal call. We unfortunately do not know the collector or date of this item, but we do know that it comes from the area around Nome, Alaska. The item is made of two seal claws attached to a piece of wood by leather strips. Since seals are traditionally very curious animals, the Inupiat would find the seals’ breathing holes and then use this seal call to scratch the ice to attract the seals. Hearing this sound, the seals would believe that there were other seals nearby and would want to investigate. Inupiat hunters would then patiently sit for hours by holes in the ice during the winter, waiting for a seal to appear.
Winter in Alaska was a harsh and often dangerous season. During this time, the Inupiat would hunt seal instead of caribou or whale which they hunted during the rest of the year. Since the seals were their main source of food, Inupiat groups would move every few weeks to new holes when the seal population became depleted.
In addition to having trouble finding food, the Inupiat would have to deal with extreme cold. During the month of February, the average temperature is between –25 and –30 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of these dangerous conditions, one of the most important defenses against the weather was magic used by shamans. The shamans forecasted the weather and tried to control it when possible. One way in which to control the weather was through the enforcement of taboos and the use of certain charms. By following a strict set of customs and rules, it was believed that the Inupiat could have some control over their physical environment.
Another way that the Inupiat would deal with the harsh winters was to have various celebrations and festivals. Most events occurred during the coldest and darkest months, from October to April, which served to solidify the Eskimo culture politically, socially, economically and religiously. These were also events to look forward to and to brighten the long, dark winter.
One of these festivals was the Messenger Feast. This was held in mid-winter and often lasted for 4 to 7 days, or until the food ran out. At this festival, there were many activities such as men seeking out their guests to deliver memorized songs and “jump dance” competitions where runners from each village would run races to win prestigious prizes. In addition to songs and activities, one of the main purposes of this feast was to promote economic exchange. Coastal and in-land villages would trade their respective goods with each other such as whale oil, walrus ivory, dried fish and caribou meat. By participating in the festival, various villages were able to cement political alliances, trade essential goods, increase social prestige and to bring some excitement to the dark winter days.
Resources Used:
Burch, Ernest S. Jr. The Eskimos. London: Macdonald & Co. 1988
Burland, Cottie. Eskimo Art. England: Hamlyn, 1973
Fair, Susan W., “The Inupiaq Eskimo Messenger Feast: Celebration, Demise, and Possibility”. The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 113, No. 450, Holidays, Ritual, Festival, Celebration, and Public Display (Autumn, 2000), pp. 464-494
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