Akuliakattagmiut facts for kids
The Akuliakattagmiut were a unique group of Copper Inuit people. They lived in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Their home was near Cape Bexley on the south shore of the Dolphin and Union Strait. They also lived close to Akuliakattak Lake in the Melville Hills. This lake is where the Rae River begins.
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Akuliakattagmiut Way of Life
The Akuliakattagmiut had interesting customs and tools. They were known for their special clothing and how they interacted with other groups.
What They Wore
The Akuliakattagmiut used a lot of seal skin for their clothes. This was more than some other Copper Inuit groups. They also had a unique way of wearing their pants. Instead of using belts at their hips, their pants came up to their waist.
Their Amazing Tools
The Akuliakattagmiut were skilled at making and using tools. All of their tools were very sharp and well-made.
- They used iron snow knives to cut snow for building shelters.
- Ulus (a type of knife) were used for many tasks, like preparing food or skins.
- They had steel whittling knives and crooked knives for carving wood or bone.
- Needles made of steel helped them sew their clothing.
- For hunting and fishing on ice, they used copper ice picks.
- They also had metal scrappers for cleaning animal hides.
Interactions and Trade
The Akuliakattagmiut traded with other nearby groups. Their trade partners included the Haneragmiut and the Puiplirmiut. Trading helped them get different goods and tools. Some of their songs even came from the Uallirnergmiut people. This shows how different Inuit groups shared parts of their culture.
Meeting New Things
According to a person named Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Akuliakattagmiut reacted differently to guns. They seemed to be afraid of them, while other Inuit groups were not. This might be because they were not used to seeing or using such weapons.