Teacher's Resources

Classroom Activities & Projects

Activity 1, Tapestry of Life - The Order of the Day Resource

Sequence of steps in tapestry by Mina Napartuk
(Based on translation of the Inuit syllabics on the tapestry)

  1. Going hunting:
    Father says to his son: "Come little son, well take the puppy and go hunting".
  2. Hunting:
    Father stands over the breathing hole with his harpoon poised, waiting for the seal to come up for air.
  3. Seal caught:
    Father hauls out a square flipper seal that he has successfully harpooned.
  4. Helping to pull:
    The boy and his dog are excited about the catch. Father says "Son, help me pull! Now we will have plenty to eat!"
  5. Going home:
    They haul the seal home. The boy says "Oh father, my dog and I will be happy to eat!"
  6. Scraping:
    Mother scrapes the skin and stretches it on a frame as the daughter tends her baby brother.
  7. Sewing:
    Mother sews the sealskin kamiks outside the tent because it is too dark inside.
  8. Finished kamiks:
    The kamiks are finished and Mother is happy.