Inuit doll

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Greenlandic Inuit doll at the Stuttgart, Linden-Museum Puppe und Ball Gronland 19Jh Linden-Museum.jpg
Greenlandic Inuit doll at the Stuttgart, Linden-Museum

Inuit dolls are made out of soapstone and bone, materials common to the people of northern Alaska, Greenland and northern Canada. Many are clothed with animal fur or skin. Their clothing articulates the traditional style of dress necessary to survive cold winters, wind, and snow. Dolls could have been gifts to young Inuit girls, to be used as teaching devices and passing down of culture. [1] With these dolls, young girls learn various skills necessary for their survival such as skin preparation, cutting & sewing, proper use of materials, designs and significance of symbols in their cultures. Inuit dolls were enjoyed by both young and old Inuit individuals and give an excellent insight into Inuit culture. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The earliest found dolls were made by Inuit living in Brooman Point Village, Bathurst Island over two thousand years ago. Since the migration of humans over the land bridge in the Bering Strait, these dolls were common in Inuit culture. While the history of creating these dolls are unknown, the tradition may have started over 1,000 years ago. [3] There are at least two different types of Inuit dolls from the Canadian region, Play dolls and Collector's Dolls. [1]

Play dolls

Traditionally by the age of ten, Inuit girls were taught by their mothers how the clothe a family. [1] This is mainly taught by learning to sew making their own dolls with removable clothing. [4] They learn about the roles of wives and mothers by playing with these dolls. Once Inuit moved to camps and settlements, young girls started going to school and started learning different kinds of lessons and schools. This change in education for young Inuit girls, the play dolls began disappearing. The last generation to grow up with the play dolls were girls from the early 1950s. [1] [2]

Collector's dolls

These dolls were typically made by Inuit for people in the south. Some are owned by museums and others are owned by private collectors and institutions. The collector's dolls were divided into four categories: dolls dressed in traditional fur garments, wearing fabric garments, made by elders from Spence Bay (Taloyoak), and lastly made by the best dollmakers in the same community. [1] [2]

The dolls made by elders are full of energy and imagination. They are sculptures made from fur and fabric. Some are reminders of what the culture used to be like and others are just fantasy of the imagination the dollmaker. The dolls made by Spence Bay's best dollmakers are full of intense artistry. Dolls could have been made from caribou antler to create a certain texture. Dollmakers could have also used soapstone to create eyes and generate certain emotions and feelings. [1] Dollmakers have also made dolls specifically called Packing Dolls that generally wear an amauti. Packing dolls refer to dolls that have a parka that is designed with a baby pouch tailored as part of the mother's clothing. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kazakh clothing</span> Clothing worn by the Kazakh people

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yup'ik doll</span>

Yup'ik doll is a traditional Eskimo style doll and figurine form made in the southwestern Alaska by Yup'ik people. Also known as Cup'ik doll for the Chevak Cup'ik dialect speaking Eskimos of Chevak and Cup'ig doll for the Nunivak Cup'ig dialect speaking Eskimos of Nunivak Island. Typically, Yup'ik dolls are dressed in traditional Eskimo style Yup'ik clothing, intended to protect the wearer from cold weather, and are often made from traditional materials obtained through food gathering. Play dolls from the Yup'ik area were made of wood, bone, or walrus ivory and measured from one to twelve inches in height or more. Male and female dolls were often distinguished anatomically and can be told apart by the addition of ivory labrets for males and chin tattooing for females. The information about play dolls within Alaska Native cultures is sporadic. As is so often the case in early museum collections, it is difficult to distinguish dolls made for play from those made for ritual. There were always five dolls making up a family: a father, a mother, a son, a daughter, and a baby. Some human figurines were used by shamans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yup'ik clothing</span> Traditional clothing worn by the Yupik people of Alaska

Yup'ik clothing refers to the traditional Eskimo-style clothing worn by the Yupik people of southwestern Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inuit clothing</span> Traditional clothing of the indigenous peoples of Arctic North America

Traditional Inuit clothing is a complex system of cold-weather garments historically made from animal hide and fur, worn by Inuit, a group of culturally related indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic areas of Canada, Greenland, and the United States. The basic outfit consisted of a parka, pants, mittens, inner footwear, and outer boots. The most common sources of hide were caribou, seals, and seabirds, although other animals were used when available. The production of warm, durable clothing was an essential survival skill which was passed down from women to girls, and which could take years to master. Preparation of clothing was an intensive, weeks-long process that occurred on a yearly cycle following established hunting seasons. The creation and use of skin clothing was strongly intertwined with Inuit religious beliefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Inuit clothing</span> History of Inuit clothing

Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of Inuit clothing extends far back into prehistory, with significant evidence to indicate that its basic structure has changed little since. The clothing systems of all Arctic peoples are similar, and evidence in the form of tools and carved figurines indicates that these systems may have originated in Siberia as early as 22,000 BCE, and in northern Canada and Greenland as early as 2500 BCE. Pieces of garments found at archaeological sites, dated to approximately 1000 to 1600 CE, are very similar to garments from the 17th to mid-20th centuries, which confirms consistency in the construction of Inuit clothing over centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Research on Inuit clothing</span> History of research on Inuit clothing

There is a long historical tradition of research on Inuit clothing across many fields. Since Europeans first made contact with the Inuit in the 16th century, documentation and research on Inuit clothing has included artistic depictions, academic writing, studies of effectiveness, and museum collections. Historically, European images of Inuit were sourced from the clothing worn by Inuit who travelled to Europe, clothing brought to museums by explorers, and from written accounts of travels to the Arctic.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Issenman, Betty (1989-01-01). "Review of Inuit Dolls: Reminders of a Heritage". Arctic. 42 (4): 377–378. doi: 10.14430/arctic1967 . JSTOR   40510866.
  2. 1 2 3 Strickler, Eva (1988). Inuit Dolls: Reminders of a Heritage. Canadian Stage & Arts Publications Ltd. ISBN   0919952380.
  3. "Civilization.ca - Timeless Treasures - Inuit Dolls from Prehistory to Today". www.historymuseum.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-12.
  4. 1 2 Miller, Heather Andrews (November 1, 2010). "Inuit Packing Dolls exhibit shares culture". Alberta Sweetgrass via ProQuest.