The Artic Culture Area includes the Aleutian Islands, most of the Alaska Coast, the Canadian Artic, and parts of Greenland. It is an area which can be described as a “cold” desert. Geographer W. Gillies Ross, in his chapter in North American Exploration. Volume 3: A Continent Comprehended, writes:
“The North American Arctic is usually considered to be the region beyond the northernmost limit of tree growth.”
The area has long, cold winters and short summers. During the summer, the tundra becomes boggy and difficult to cross. W. Gillies Ross describes the region this way:
“In general, the Arctic is characterized by mean monthly temperatures under 50ᵒ F (10ᵒ C); long, severe winters; short, cool summers; persistent ice cover on fresh- and saltwater bodies; prolonged winter darkness and summer daylight; ground underlain by continuous permafrost; and a comparatively small number of plant and animal species.”
The native people of the Arctic are usually divided into the Aleut and the Eskimo. The Eskimo refer to themselves as Inuit and the Aleut call them themselves Unangan. All of the languages of this area are classified as Eskimoan.
The Maryhill Museum of Art near Goldendale, Washington, has a collection of Arctic artifacts on display.
According to the Museum display:
“Much Eskimo art was created in ivory and as a result it was small in scale. Arctic life, both human and animal, was the most common subject matter in art. Although wood was scarce, wooden masks and containers had an important place in Eskimo art. Among the Aleut, basketry was a major art form.”
According to the Museum display:
“Eskimo carvers began to make incised walrus tusks for sale to tourists after seeing Euro-American scrimshaw. The three panels on this tusk show a man hunting seals on the left and two scenes of wolves hunting and killing caribou to the right.”
Containers
Fishing Equipment
Fishing was an important subsistence activity for many groups.
Hunting Equipment
Along the coast, the peoples of the Arctic hunted sea mammals, including sea lions, sea otters, seals, and whales. The use of spear throwers enabled hunters to throw spears and harpoons more powerfully and more accurately.
According to the Museum display:
“The projectile was laid along the groove with its base against the small ivory hook. The finger hole and grooves on the reverse side were made to fit the individual hunter’s hand.”
Other tools
Indians 101
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Indians 101 explores different American Indian topics. Also from this series:
Indians 101: Inuit Art (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Yup'ik Masks (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Arctic Baskets (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Inupiaq Art (Photo Diary)