Amauti facts for kids
The amauti (pronounced ah-MAH-tee) is a special kind of parka worn by Inuit women in the eastern parts of Northern Canada. It's designed to carry a baby safely and warmly on the mother's back. The amauti has a built-in pouch just below the hood where the baby can snuggle. Babies can stay in this pouch until they are about two years old.
The pouch is big and comfy for the baby. A mother can easily move her child from her back to her front for feeding or for quick potty breaks, all without exposing the baby to the cold weather. This traditional Inuit parka keeps the child safe from frostbite, wind, and cold. It also helps mothers and babies feel close and connected.
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How the Amauti is Made
Amautiit (that's the plural for amauti) can be made from different materials. These include sealskin, caribou skin, or thick wool cloth called duffle. Often, they have a windproof outer layer.
Even today, children are commonly carried in amautiit in Inuit communities in Nunavut and Nunavik. You might also see them in the Northwest Territories, Greenland, Labrador, the Russian Arctic, and Alaska. Over time, amautiit made from cloth have become more common than those made from animal skins.
Where the Baby Sits
Many people who see an amauti for the first time might think the baby is carried in the hood. This isn't true! The hood is made larger so that both the child and mother can be covered together. The baby actually rides in the enlarged back part of the garment, in the special pouch.
The child sits with their tummy against the mother's back and their knees bent. A tie or belt around the mother's waist keeps the baby from slipping down from the pouch. The weight of the child is supported by the shoulders of the amauti. Two more ties form a "V" shape from the collarbone, connecting to the waist tie, which helps spread the baby's weight.
There's also a tie attached to the front edge of the hood. This lets the mother open the hood so a curious child can peek out and see what's happening. Or, she can pull the hood closed to protect the child from wind and bad weather.
Winter and Summer Amautiit
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There are usually two main styles of amauti:
- Skirted style (called akulik): This style looks more like a dress. You can see two women wearing this style in the picture on the right.
- Long-tailed style (called angijuqtaujaq): This style has a longer back with a decorative, tail-like shape at the bottom. The woman in the picture on the left is wearing this style.
The shape of the hood, the decorations, and the tail shape can tell you which region an amauti comes from. Winter amautiit often have solid color stripes on the sleeves and hem. These stripes highlight the garment's shape and the swing of the "tail." A classic winter amauti might have a white cotton outer layer with a darker, solid-colored duffle inner layer.
In the past, the longer amauti tails were sometimes decorated with special charms like beads, shells, or old coins. These charms were believed to attract spirits to the swinging tail, which would then protect the woman's ability to have children. However, over time, the church discouraged the use of these charms.
There are also modern summer amautiit, which are not shown here. These have no sleeves and less padding, making them perfect for carrying a child while berry picking or doing other summer activities. They can also be worn in winter under a larger parka that covers both mother and baby. Summer amautiit are usually made from quilted cloth and come in many different patterns.
Amauti as Art and Style
The amauti is not just practical; it's also a beautiful piece of clothing and art. In 2007, an amauti decorated with beads by Ooloosie Ashevak, who is related to the famous Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak, was sold at an auction for a lot of money. It was expected to sell for much less, but it ended up selling for $19,200! This shows how much people value the craftsmanship and cultural importance of the amauti.
