| |
Former name | Eskimo Museum |
|---|---|
| Established | 1944 |
| Location | Churchill, Canada |
| Coordinates | 58°46′14″N94°10′01″W / 58.770421°N 94.166910°W |
| Type | Ethnographic museum |
The Itsanitaq Museum is a museum located in Churchill, Canada dedicated to Inuit culture. [1]
The intention with the creation of this museum was by Catholic missionaries to preserve the various artifacts of the native people of the northern part of Canada in 1944. [2] [3] The museum was founded by Jacques Volant, who held the position of curator until 1987. [4]
The museum contains some 1,300 items dating from the 1930s to the present day including sculptures, [5] artwork, tools used by the natives of this area of Canada. Some artifacts are made of stone, whale bone or ivory. [6] The museum has exhibits about the Dorset and Thule cultures. [7] [8] Among the Inuit-related exhibits are antique weapons, hunting equipment and wooden kayaks designed to navigate the Arctic Ocean. [9] [10] The museum also has exhibits on Arctic wildlife including animals such as Polar Bears, Muskox and Walrus. [11] [12] The museum has a section of books about the animals that inhabit the Arctic. [13] [14] The museum also preserves archaeological remains. [10]