Indigenous People History -Michelle Saldivar

Inuit

The Inuit knew that warm clothing was of great importance because of freezing temperatures, Hunters who would fish and hunt seal, walrus, and caribou for hours perferred a traditional Inuit skin clothing that provided insulation. Mulitple layers of clothes were worn while hunting or traveling. Often had fur inside the coats, and the outside was the outwards turned fur. Often the Inuit wore parkas, pants, and even mittens made from the fur of seals or caribou. Being a seamstress was an important job, often given to the women of the tribe to determine the shapes and sizes needed to create pieces of clothing. The traditional clothes sustained and help the Inuit express themselves.

Take a look at what Inuit People Wore

Inuit culture divide labour by gender, thus the men and women would wear garments tailored to their daily tasks. Men would wear an outer layer called qulittaq and the inner layer called atigi. With no front opening and loose shoulders to enhance mobility while hunting. Women paraks were called amauti and have large pouches called amaut for carrying infants as seen above. The infant typically rests against the mother's bare back inside the pouch and a belt is cinched around the mother's waist on the outside to supporting the child.

Traditional Outfit

The most common outfit of traditional Inuit clothing consisted of a hooded parka, pants or leggings, mittens, layers of inner footwear, and boots. They were made of animal fur. They were light-weight thus the multiple layers worn, outfits had insulating properties. A group similarities within tribes could be indicated by the visual features such as a variations in patterns made by the different colors of fur, the cut of garment and even lenght. Styling of a piece could also represent biographical information such as the individual's age, martial status, and belonging to a tribe. An example is the 'Akuitoq man's parka had a silt down the front, worn in the keewatin and baffin islands areas.

Inuit Trousers

Both men and women wore trousers call qarliik. During the winter men wore two pairs of fur trousers to provide extra warmth on hunting trips. The were waist high and held by a drawstring. In some regions, especially the Western Artic, atartaq (leggings) were used. For women, during menstruation, they would wear a pair of old trousers with a small piece of hide inside to not ruin their daily outift.

Footwear

Traditional footwear would consist of up to five layers of socks, boots, and overboots depending of the weather conditions and terrain. Made of caribou or seal skin. The traditional first layer was called aliqsiik, with fur facing inwards towards the skin, and thus the needed layers would follow. The most distinguishing layer would be the feature of kamiit, the soles, made of a single piece of skin that wraps up the side of the foot. It is the final layer. During the wet season of summer, waterproof clothing were worn instead of wearing the insulaed fur boots, made of sela skin with the fur removed. The Inuit would sew boots with pleats to provide grip on icy ground.

Ilgaak (snow googles)

During the spring and summer, intense sunlight reflecting off the snow on the ground could cause painful condition know as snow blindness. The Inuit would develope ilgaak, eyewear which decreases the glare but allows the field of view. Made from bone or driftwood, carved in a curve to fit the face, narrow slits allow only a small amount pf light to enter.

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