Friday, April 19, 2019

The North

Picking up where we left off, here we have clothing and artifacts typical of Inuit people from time immemorial. While some might be older, many of these are relatively contemporary, but made with regard to the same cultural influences passed down for generations. This part of the Arctic Gallery really shows the collaboration done with indigenous peoples of the north to create this space. Many of the panels are less third-person and more 'our story' in emphasis.


Two display cases, side by side. The items at top left are plastic toys created in the current era to help children learn about fishing through play. The boots, purse, and tool bag are contemporary as well, but done in the same way as has been done for thousands of years, using materials like fish skin, seal skin, and caribou sinew. The tool bag makes use of the better part of a fish skin for carrying tools needed, and these items were created to show these old ways.


The items in this case are a century old, used as tools for fishing- the rod, the lure, the stringer, or an item called a leister, used to spear fish in rivers or from the sea ice. Materials used in items like this include wood, caribou bone or sinew, sealskin, or copper.


This copper sample was collected by the Canadian Arctic Expedition. Indigenous peoples of the far north were making use of copper for thousands of years in their every day life.


Emerging from the exhibits, one comes into an area with a video screen that shows a wealth of images from the Canadian Arctic, both nature and people.

34 comments:

  1. The Arctic gallery is certainly amazing!

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  2. Interesting exhibit at the gallery. Happy weekend!

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  3. The screen with images brings the arctic to life.

    Janis
    GDP

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  4. The arctic regions are very interesting, but climate change is dramatic overthere as well.

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  5. I like that they make modern things in the old way but can also adapt new things to teach the old way.

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  6. Interesting and fascinating post, William !

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  7. I love the north and really enjoy this exhibit,

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  8. It is pretty sad to contemplate the state of our indiginous peoples today.

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  9. ...the north, the home of hardy people.

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  10. We sure live in luxury compared to that. But who was/is happier?

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  11. Does the stack of stones symbolize something? It seems like I have seen that in other cultures too.

    Thanks for stopping by my post yesterday. I was a little nervous to post it! Not everyone agrees, but I think it is good to talk about things.

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  12. There is lots to understand about living in the far north.

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  13. @Ella: I inadvertently deleted your comment while banishing the spammer. I love the cold.

    @Italiafinlandia: it is.

    @Nancy: thank you.

    @Janis: it does.

    @Jan: true.

    @Anvilcloud: I agree.

    @Karl: thank you.

    @Laurie: thanks.

    @David: I agree.

    @Tom: true.

    @Iris: good question.

    @Sandi: the inukshuk as it is called serves as a marker, in more than one way.

    @Sharon: definitely.

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  14. I sure enjoyed seeing these displays. Thank you for sharing them. :-)

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  15. Life wouldn't have been easy that's for sure. Love the photos from the video screen ✨

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  16. Thank you for sharing a wonderful collection. I often joke about the end of my life being set out on an ice flow to just float into the next world. Then I stay away from ice flows.

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  17. Good to see present day practices in use and their relation to traditional practices.

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  18. Fascinating post and photos about your indigenous people ~

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  19. Always an important part of my week is visiting you and Canada!

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  20. A wonderful exhibit, William.

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  21. They have done an excellent job with those displays!

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  22. This post really brings focus to the northern peoples. I'm grateful you are sharing it.

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  23. A beautiful area that I will probably never see in person.

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  24. I really lack culture in my life! thank for this.

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  25. cool blooms ... rocks and all. happy weekend. ( ;

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  26. Our Native peoples used similar tools as you've shown for fishing. I don't know if or how they used fish skins but I don't think I've seen copper used.

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  27. @DJan: you're welcome.

    @Grace: thank you.

    @Barbara: hah!

    @Red: it is.

    @Carol: thanks!

    @Cloudia: thank you.

    @Marie: I do as well.

    @Bill: I think so!

    @RedPat: they have, yes.

    @Jeanie: I'm glad to show it.

    @Shammickite: I'd love to.

    @Jennifer: you're welcome.

    @Beth: thank you.

    @Kay: in this case copper is common in that part of the country, and so it was being used for thousands of years.

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  28. I do like the photographs from the video screen.

    All the best Jan

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  29. It's hard to live in such a climate.

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