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Tools

The tools of Igloolik men and women attest to their ingenuity and creativity. They made each tool from resources available on the land, and in making them they showed a deep understanding of their environment and an ability to design solutions to everyday challenges. Each tool was also designed with care and precision. As such, it reflects not only a practical need but also the great richness of the culture.

 

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You wish to drill through the lake ice in autumn. Which tool should you use?

  • Two ice chisels, lying alongside each other. Each of them has a long wooden handle, a white stone head, and a point carved out of rock. One of them is turned over, showing how its head is firmly held in place by a strap wrapped around the handle.
  • Long, finely polished spoon made of bone. One end is broad and rounded, and the other is thin and narrow. The surface of the utensil is smooth and slightly curved.
  • Bow drill made of white bone, two drills with wooden handles and metal bits, and little bones that have turned yellow, seen from above. The bow is slightly curved and has notches at both ends for a string, which is missing here. It also has a line of three small holes.
  • Tool with a white bone handle, which is engraved with deep, regular diagonal lines. A worn, curved metal blade is joined to one end of the handle, showing signs of rust.
A bundled-up person in a snowy landscape holds a sphere with a question mark, standing near an icy water hole under a calm sky.

You wish to scoop out and eat marrow from a bone. Which tool should you use?

  • Two ice chisels, lying alongside each other. Each of them has a long wooden handle, a white stone head, and a point carved out of rock. One of them is turned over, showing how its head is firmly held in place by a strap wrapped around the handle.
  • Long, finely polished spoon made of bone. One end is broad and rounded, and the other is thin and narrow. The surface of the utensil is smooth and slightly curved.
  • Bow drill made of white bone, two drills with wooden handles and metal bits, and little bones that have turned yellow, seen from above. The bow is slightly curved and has notches at both ends for a string, which is missing here. It also has a line of three small holes.
  • Tool with a white bone handle, which is engraved with deep, regular diagonal lines. A worn, curved metal blade is joined to one end of the handle, showing signs of rust.
A person in Arctic gear sits on a mat holding a mystery sphere, with tools and a piece of meat nearby on a snowy, sandy terrain.

You wish to make a hole in a piece of caribou antler. Which tool should you use?

  • Two ice chisels, lying alongside each other. Each of them has a long wooden handle, a white stone head, and a point carved out of rock. One of them is turned over, showing how its head is firmly held in place by a strap wrapped around the handle.
  • Long, finely polished spoon made of bone. One end is broad and rounded, and the other is thin and narrow. The surface of the utensil is smooth and slightly curved.
  • Bow drill made of white bone, two drills with wooden handles and metal bits, and little bones that have turned yellow, seen from above. The bow is slightly curved and has notches at both ends for a string, which is missing here. It also has a line of three small holes.
  • Tool with a white bone handle, which is engraved with deep, regular diagonal lines. A worn, curved metal blade is joined to one end of the handle, showing signs of rust.
A person in winter clothes kneels on snow, examining a large tusk with a mysterious sphere marked by a question mark beside it.

You wish to engrave details on your carving. Which tool should you use?

  • Two ice chisels, lying alongside each other. Each of them has a long wooden handle, a white stone head, and a point carved out of rock. One of them is turned over, showing how its head is firmly held in place by a strap wrapped around the handle.
  • Long, finely polished spoon made of bone. One end is broad and rounded, and the other is thin and narrow. The surface of the utensil is smooth and slightly curved.
  • Bow drill made of white bone, two drills with wooden handles and metal bits, and little bones that have turned yellow, seen from above. The bow is slightly curved and has notches at both ends for a string, which is missing here. It also has a line of three small holes.
  • Tool with a white bone handle, which is engraved with deep, regular diagonal lines. A worn, curved metal blade is joined to one end of the handle, showing signs of rust.
A person in a hooded parka examines a small polar bear sculpture on a table, with a question mark over the bear.