Inuujait

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Why this Project Of inuuja

This project of inujja is a great way to teach our youth and children.

All the inujja are made in different clothing that where tough by our mothers, to teach us how to measure and make the clothing, that has been passed on by our antcoistors and we use them for our clothing, this was the way they would teach the girls to know knowledge and survive in their environment, learning how to sew and make clothing and what were their responsibilities.

Inujjaa (inuit traditional dolls) that is made with small pieces of wood, bones and traditional clothing are the original inujjaa we would use, also the fur, bones and rock were the only one available for their toys. The one who is making the original inujjaa is measuring the clothing that her mother had tought her. This show a great way to learn and teach our culture. That is why I have decided to make the project of Inujjaa.

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Why this Project Of inuuja

This project of inuuja is a great teaching tool for a workshop that involves our culture and to show the last three generations of the life we have lived and how it has changed, when there was little wood and metal available in inuit settlements, when most of the inuit still lived in sod houses and when only a few house where made.This project of inujja is a great way to teach our youth and children.All the inujja are made in different clothing that where tough by our mothers, to teach us how to measure and make the clothing, that has been passed on by our antcoistors and we use them for our clothing, this was the way they would teach the girls to know knowledge and survive in their environment, learning how to sew and make clothing and what were their responsibilities.Inujjaa (inuit traditional dolls) that is made with small pieces of wood, bones and traditional clothing are the original inujjaa we would use, also the fur, bones and rock were the only one available for their toys. The one who is making the original inujjaa is measuring the clothing that her mother had tought her. This show a great way to learn and teach our culture. That is why I have decided to make the project of Inujjaa.

Why it is important

From my experience , I wanted to see and imagine what they where talking about , I have been working in films as a art director and it was challenging for me because I thought I knew my culture when I was growing up , but when I had to decide on a set ,it was hard to remember and I have forgotten a lot that are important and I needed to see in order to remember how it was made and how it was u

it was hard to have inuuja

It was hard to get a new inujja because there was hardly any wood , when my father was making sled ( kamutti ) their would be small peaces and the wood was so breakable, my father made me one after he made the sled .

props and toys for my inuuja

I did not like small animals , my inujjaa would have fur from a caribou skin firom an antler ,that is why I never use any small animal fur . when my mother first made me a sheet for a caribou skin from an alter I was soo happy . but after words I was able to use leman fur because other girls had it

playing with other children

in the sand area we would build our houses with rocks and sand , it seemed so real , with qulliq ( oil lamp ) ,and buttons for a cup also a bucket from a lied , I didn t know where the lied came from ,we would also use matches box and gun cases for toys , we would use the small boxes for a case to play with , with the gun cases they would cut in half and make them to a small cups, a women alli

my little sister

we use to play with inujjaa a lot , one day I visited a relative to play inujja with her and I was using my mothers kammiks ( boots ) , as usual my litter sister found me visiting, she took the kamiks with out telling me ( she starts to laugh ) because she know I was using my mother kammiks she brough them home .

first inuuja

Oh yes I can tell you what I remember. My mother's step sister Terase Kupaq had lots of inujja and they were properly dressed. I would cry because I wanted one. The step mother of Paula made me one and it was tall and thin.Rebeca starts to laugh .

Rebecca Malliki

Women finishing the inuujait

Mary finishes to make her qulliq

Susan's toys for her inuuja house

Mary starts making her props for her inuja house

Mary starting her inuja house

Made by Mary Qullitalik

Mary's materials for her inuuja

Mary's style for late 1950's dolls

Made by Mary Qulitalik

Rebecca starting her inuja house

Rebecca almost done with her inuuja clothing

Made by Rebecca Malliki

Women's miniature amauti

Rebecca makes her original inuujait with lemming skins

Original inuujait

She starts to make clothing for her inuujait

Inuujait of today made by Susan Avingaq

Susan Avingaq is making her inuujait ( Inuit traditional dolls )

Susan Avingaq

Susan Avinga was born in 1942 near Igloolik, Nunavut in a camp named Kapuivik. A photo of her work making Inuujait with modern clothing.

Rebecca Malliki making the tradtional inuujait

Rebecca Mallik was born in 1938 near Igloolik, Nunavut in a camp named Qammun. She grew up playing and making inuujait. She shares her knowledge on how to make the traditional dolls ..

Mary Qullitalik making late 1950 style inuujait

Mary Qullitalik was born in 1940 near Igloolik, Nunavut in a camp named Ikirasaajuk. She grew up playing with inuujait in her childhood and was happy to work with this project and to share her knowledge on making traditional inuujait( inuit traditional dolls )