Games of strength (arsaaraak)

These two games of strength both use a pair of caribou-antler handles, which are joined by a strap of bearded-seal leather.

To play, the opponents sit on the ground face to face, and each grabs a handle, generally with his right hand. One leg is bent, and the other is outstretched and leaning against the other player's knee. One of the players leans backwards and rests on his elbow, while the other stays upright. Each player tries to pull his opponent toward himself. This game, called arsaaraak, resembles the sport known as "tug of war." Mainly practised by men, especially in the evening or when the weather was too bad for hunting, it gave each player a chance to test his strength against the other.

Nowadays, this game is still played, especially during the Christmas games, at large gatherings, or at competitions. The handles are now made of wood and joined by a rope.

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Picture gallery

Two games of strength, shaped like a capital H. They each have a pair of cylindrical handles, which are joined to each other by a wide leather strip.

Game of strength (arsaaraak)

Dimensions: 10,4 cm x 10 cm x 2,8 cm (each handle)

Video capsule

Listen to Natalino Piugattuk and Deborah Qaunaq talk about these games

Natalino Piugattuk: This is a game. You are in an igloo and you pull very hard on it.

If the igloo is a small one, while you are pulling,

this would snap and penetrate into the side of the igloo.

The goal is to try to find out who is stronger.

If this doesn't snap here, it can break here

and fly away and penetrate through the igloo.

I can only say that it was used as a game.

It was also used in the qaggiq [in inuktitut]. There was a real competition in the qaggiq.

Deborah Qaunaq: In the big qaggiq? Natalino Piugattuk: Yes, in the qaggiq. There would be drum dancing

and such. When two men would kiss each other,

there had to be a winner in the competition. It was done in the qaggiq at times.

If two men challenged each other,

a winner had to come out in the end, so they tried with all their might.

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