Balls for the ajuktaq game

These caribou-hip bones (head of the femur) were used as balls in a game named ajuktaq. They could also be made of walrus costal cartilage. The game was played mainly by boys, but girls and adults could also take part occasionally.

The ajuktaq game was played by two teams: those who were born in winter, called aqiggiq (ptarmigans), and those who were born in summer, called aggiarjuit (long-tailed ducks). Each player had a short whip, made of stiff walrus skin, which he held in one hand and used to propel a ball. The aggiarjuit were supposed to hurl the ball toward the water or the ice, and the aqiggiq were supposed to send it inland.

The ajuktaq game is no longer commonly played. By some accounts, it was played as recently as several years ago, using golf balls and hockey sticks to replace the traditional equipment. Nowadays, hockey is the most popular team sport for young people. Some elders say it's like the ajuktaq game in several respects.

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Picture gallery

Four little bone spheres in a line. The polished bones are golden brown in colour and have a slightly rough texture.

Balls for the game of ajuktaq

Dimensions: Diameters : 2,9-3,2 cm

Audio capsule

Listen to Deborah Qaunaq talk about this game

Deborah Qaunaq: These are bones, from this part of the caribou [Deborah points at her right hip]. My brother Qaunnaq

used to have these as they were used for a game.

With a strip of walrus hide narrowing to a point at the end, and a handle,

my brother Qaunnaq would use this as a whip, made for him by our father.

The aqiggit [in inuktitut], the ones born during the winter, aim to get to the land.

The ones born in the summer, the aggiarjuit [in inuktitut], aim to get to the sea ice.

They used to play at trying to defeat each other.

They would whip this little thing [Deborah points at one of these little rounded bones] and it would fly off.

They would run to try to get to it first.

When they were able to bring it to the ice/land, they would win.

It reminds me of hockey.

Back then, when we were younger, they would play all sorts of games.

This is one of them. It was used to play. My brother

Qaunnaq always had these, which is why I know about them.

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