Ookpik facts for kids
An Ookpik is a special toy made by the Inuit people. It's a small, cute owl that often looks like a snowy owl. People buy them as a souvenir, which is a reminder of a place or event.
Ookpiks have a big head, large eyes, a small beak, and tiny black claws. They are usually made from natural materials. These include soft wolf fur or sealskin.
The word Ukpik (written as ᐅᒃᐱᒃ in Inuktitut) means "snowy owl" in the Inuktitut language. This is the language spoken by the Inuit people.
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Ookpik as a Mascot
Ookpiks are so popular that they have become mascots for different groups. A mascot is a symbol or character that represents a team or organization.
NAIT's Ook Mascot
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Canada uses a shortened version, the Ook, as its mascot. NAIT got this mascot in 1964. It was given to them by a Canadian government department. Many of NAIT's sports teams are known as the Ooks.
Boy Scouts Okpik Program
The Boy Scouts of America also uses "Okpik" as a name and mascot. This is for some of their cold-weather camping programs. The first Okpik training started in the 1970s. It was at the Northern Tier High Adventure Bases in Ely, Minnesota. Other Boy Scout adventure bases now have similar programs.
Ookpik in Music
The "Ookpik Waltz" is a famous piece of music. It was published in 1965 by Frankie Rodgers. He was a talented fiddler from Mission, British Columbia.
Ookpik in Books
Many books have been written about the Ookpik. Most of these are children's books. They share fun stories about this popular owl.
- Kent Salisbury, with pictures by Beverly Edwards, wrote Ookpik Visits the USA.
- Dudley Copland, with pictures by James Simpkins, wrote OOKPIK the Ogling Arctic Owl in 1965.
- Barbara Hazen, with pictures by Irma Wilde, wrote Ookpik in the City in 1968.
- Bruce Hiscock wrote Ookpik: The Travels of a Snowy Owl in 2008.
- An Ookpik appears in the poetry book Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee. Frank Newfeld drew the pictures for this book.
- The Ookpik was also featured in Souvenir of Canada by Douglas Coupland. This book is about Canadian culture. It was later made into a film.
- Barbara Shook Hazen, with pictures by Harry Devlin, wrote The Adventures of Ookpik: A Golden Book in 1968.
