Page 376 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

INUIT ART AND CULTURE
As descendants from the Thule who emerged from coastal Alaska
around 1000 AD, the Inuit are a 65,000 strong group of Aboriginal
Canadians who now live in small, rural communities spread out across
Northern Canada. Semi-nomadic for centuries, the Inuit are skilled
fishers and trappers. This hunting lifestyle has created a distinct culture
for the Inuit, one that is closely tied to their unforgiving landscape
and harsh environment. And it is this hardship of northern life that
has promoted artistic achievement throughout Inuit communities.
CARVINGS AND PRINTMAKING
Inuit carvings have been prized by Europeans as ANIMAL SPIRITS
desirable art objects ever since they came into contact Set on the very fringes
with the Inuit in the 16th century. Made in stone, ivory, of the habitable world,
and antler, these carvings were originally produced to the Inuit traditionally
depict animal spirits and mythical figures, and to amuse guarded against the
children. Inuits continue to carve and polish these works threat of starvation
entirely by hand. In the 1950s, various other art forms, with a supernatural
including printmaking, were adopted by the Inuit belief system based
community. Prints and carvings, on the respect of the
especially, are now highly animals they hunted.
sought after by Their myths promote
art collectors. the belief that every
living creature has a
soul, and that a village
Tiny ivory shaman could commune
carving, which with, and appease, the
was originally spirits in control of the
used to adorn hunt and the weather.
Inuit clothing

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