Natalino Piugattuk: This looks like a shovel. In the igloo,
it was used to make the bed. It's short.
This is up here [Natalino points at the handle that hangs in the middle of the object]. It's used to shovel snow [Natalino points at the larger bottom part of the object].
To be able to pick up snow it's made this way.
Some would make a big igloo,
and it can get very warm building an igloo.
You don't get as hot if you do it this way [Natalino imitates the action of shoveling].
They made a shovel to make
the bed out of snow. Even though the igloo is complete,
the inside also takes a lot of work, using a shovel.
First, break up the snow using a knife then fill it up,
and put the snow up there using the shovel.
It's not a real shovel
for sure. You don't break it up so evenly
on the bed, even if you try to make it
all even. When you break the snow apart,
it can become uneven. By shovelling it, it's easier to make it even.
This is how it was used.
It was used to remove snow so it was handled with a lot of care.
It was put away carefully after use. It was never
just left outside. It was carefully put away.
It was used in many ways to remove snow.
You can grab it, but the handle is a bit hard to grab.
It would be easier to handle if it was
a little bit more toward here [Natalino points at a lower part of the shovel]. If it's too high,
it can get tiring. If it's too short, the snow can get heavy
if you do bigger pieces. If the handle is longer, it helps with the lifting.
The length of the handle helps.
The snow can get heavy. This shovel was made in a way
that can tire you easily.
That is how it was made. If the handle was more here,
you would not tire as quickly, and the snow would not seem as heavy.
Absolutely anybody can use it.
What is the Inuktitut term for "treated like an egg"?
Hey Uirngut? Is there an Inuktitut term? [Natalino asks Deborah Qaunaq]
Something treated carefully, like an egg. Yes, that.
It would never just be left on the ground.
It was always put away carefully, even before sleep.
It was always put away properly. It was one of the most missed things of all things used.
They make them now for film making.
When they are going to be filming, these are made.
People no longer make them as they no longer need to be spending nights (in igloos)...
People aren't spending nights (in igloos), so they are no longer used.
