Arctic Craft Day

The Inuit are known for their ability to sew and carve. Every year the hamlets throughout Nunavut Territory hold a craft day on the last Saturday of November. This day permits the artists and crafty people to display and sell their wares.

Women were judged in past years by her ability to sew. Inuit women guarded their needles as precious objects and were able to provide her family with everything they wore. Outer clothing made out of caribou hides, polar bear pants for the hunters, sealskin boots which were waterproof and mitts which were made of wolf pelts. Their skill was not limited to clothes as they sewed the sealskin hides so tightly that they were used for the skin of the kayaks.

With the need for this skill being lessened with store bought clothes the women turned to making luxury and decorative items. Wolf mitts now cost up to $500 and Mukluk's over that amount.

The young girls make hand made needle work for decorations on the amouts and other clothes. The men not to be outdone carve beautiful pieces of art out of soap stone and bone of the caribou and whale. Ulu's are made from old saw blades. In any case the show is a wonderful place to be on the last Saturday of the month.

In addition to the goods , food is supplied in the traditional way and various sausages and burgers are produced from Muskoxen and caribou. Mipkou (dried meat from Muskoxen and Caribou) and biffy ( dried fish ) are sold.

The doors open at 9am and everything is sold by 10 am. Money exchanges hands and there is no bartering about the price. The value of the items presented are judged by how quickly they are sold so the prices are attractive. Immediately after the last item is sold and it will be the music and people share in the showing of their prized purchases. By the end of the sale some people are very happy but others are disappointed because their offerings were purchased by family to save face.

I purchased many Xmas gifts at these fairs and loved the interaction of the people. Elders with no money roamed around the area and were given items freely in a show of respect. Inuit really believe that that they personally own very little as they feel they are Stewart's of monetary and physical things and should be shared with the ones who are less fortunate.

Years ago it was an honour to have more than you needed so you could share. This practise gave status to the hunters and women who could make more clothing than they needed.

I received a good feeling about the craft fairs and the pride shown for realized skills. This does not occur when you go to a big box store and stare at numerous items all turned out by people from third world countries who are being exploited by our companies.