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The Inuinnaqtun Bow Making Tradition

Building and Talking About Bows

Pitikhiit - The Bows

Pitikhiliuqtiit -Building the Bows

Hanavik - The Working Place

Taluaqturvik - The Caribou Drive

Inuinnaqtun Bow Glossary

Building and Talking About Bows

Inuinnait, have a bow making tradition that is centuries old. Several Elders in Inuinnait communities today remember their parents and grandparents building and using bows, and many have even built and taken animals with bows themselves. In Cambridge Bay, November 11-14, 2005 and Kugluktuk, January 20-23, 2006 Elders and youth were brought together for the purpose of building traditional Inuinnaqtun bows, and recording the Elders knowledge of bows, bow making, and hunting with bows.

For Inuinnait, the bow was a very important tool for survival. It was used mainly for hunting caribou, but was also used for ptarmigan, hare, muskox, and even grizzly.

Bennett Hikomak of Kugluktuk traces out bow shape for youth.

Moses Koihok of Cambridge Bay remembers hunting with the bow.

Over four days workshop participants gained insight into their heritage by crafting a wooden bow while Elders provided demonstrations, advice and oral traditions. The Elders knowledge and experiences of bow making and hunting with the bow were recorded. Many Inuinnaqtun terms for bows, arrows and hunting techniques were recorded.

Kugluktuk Elder Joseph Niptanatiaq target practicing with an ihuin'naqtaq

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