Inuit Culture Although it’s a small building, Churchill Manitoba’s Itsanitaq Museum houses impressive displays of 1,300 items from a collection of 4,800 Inuit artifacts and works of art. Itsanitaq means “things from the past – objects, events and stories.” Most outstanding are the whalebone, walrus ivory, soapstone and muskox horn carvings. Visitors can listen to audio descriptions of specific items on handsets. We especially enjoyed viewing handmade items from everyday Inuit life, including tools, sealskin boots and boats. travelmanitoba.com/directory/itsanitaq-museum World’s Only Mooseskin Boat Much rarer than the sealskin boats in the Itsanitaq Museum’s collections is the only mooseskin boat ever preserved. For us, it was the highlight of the natural history, northern aviation, mining exhibits, Dene and Inuvialuit cultural displays in the Yellowknife, N.W.T. Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. A moose hide sign explained that, from the late 1800s to the 1950s, these boats transported people, dogs, meat, furs and other goods down rivers to theMackenzie River and trading posts. Designed as temporary craft, the boats were dismantled after the journey. The hides were used for clothing and other items and the occupants returned home on foot. By the 1950s, mooseskin boats had virtually disappeared. Elders, who still retained the knowledge and skills, decided to teach young people about this part of their heritage. In 1981, Gabe Etchinelle built the boat from eight moose hides, without nails, using only an ax, needles and knives. Another moose hide sign shows its route from the construction site near the headwaters of the Keele River to the Mackenzie River and Tulita (formerly Fort Norman). A barge transported it to Yellowknife. pwnhc.ca CSANews | SUMMER 2022 | 17 Travel
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