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Bill Hillman's 
EduTech Research Project
Presents
John Tyman's
INUIT ~ People of the Arctic
Unit IV: FAMILY LIFE, TRANSPORT & RECREATION
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Part 1: Family Life In Summer
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1. Front yard of house in Talyoak.
In spring last year's BBQ, no longer covered with snow, 
gives promise of warmer days ahead.
2. Small boat dock.
At the waters' edge boats are still idle,
because the bay is still frozen over..
3. Main street of Talyoak on Saturday morning in early summer.
At 10.00am the main street is still deserted -- 
partly because hardly anyone in town will be up yet 
(when the sun does not set why bother with "time"?) 
and partly because most people are now on the land.
4. Fish drying outside house. 
Those few men who have jobs in town
hunt and fish at weekends, 
drying some of their catch at home..
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5. Spring seal camp at midnight.
Most men, though, will now be camped somewhere with their families; 
and they will follow a semi-nomadic lifestyle for four months or so 
much as they would have done in the old days. 
6. Cutting up seal at spring camp.
For many people this is the happiest time of the year, 
when they are at one with the land 
and are once more sure of their identity.They live off the land..
7. Fishing in lee of sled box.
Though sealing is generally the preserve of men, 
women assist with fishing -- in fact the whole family joins in usually.
8. Visiting friends. 
Canvas tents from "The Bay" have replaced their old shelters of seal skin,
but family life goes on unchanged, with lots of time spent visiting with friends..
9. Uncovering cache from last summer.
They move a lot in search of the best fishing and hunting spots;
and to reduce the amount of freight thay have to carry around 
they commonly bury both food and equipment in caches.
This photo was taken at midnight.

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10. Preparing cache at site of seal camp. 
In this case we planned to return in a week or so
and therefore left half of our gear behind. 
We knew no one would touch it. 
Because loss of food and supplies from a cache
can be a death sentence when you are depending on it in winter,
theft is rare here..
11. Fishing for char.
In many ways a child's experiences of life in camp 
are not unlike those of children in Australia who holiday with their parents.
They get to watch their parents fish, for example, 
and learn how to do it themselves.
12. Pegging out wolf skin.
They also get to help with odd jobs around the camp..
 

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13. Toys at fishing camp.
Some bring toys from home.
14. Children trying to catch a gopher hiding in an inukshuk.
Others chase animals and birds. . ..
15. Girl with dead seal.
Or play with those their fathers have brought home.

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16. Pet dog at sealing camp.
And a few today even have pets --
though these are frequently frowned upon by old people
for whom dogs were just working animals..
17. Boys on small sled. 
They slide down slopes when they can, or are pulled along.
18. Children and snowmobile. 
And they play with engines when they get the chance..
19. Hillside near spring camp.
They explore the area around their campsite.
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20. On lake in spring.
They wade through water and play "boats" 
when they find something that floats..
21. Fire of grass and willow twigs.
They light fires of their own
-- necessarily small ones in this environment.
22. Siblings.
While the boys show off with tests of strength. . .
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23. Friends at camp.
The girls talk with friends they haven't seen since last year.
24. Child-minding.
And a few males even get to swap roles..

BACK TO THE TYMAN CULTURES IN CONTEXT PROJECT

NAVIGATION GUIDE: PHOTOS & RECORDINGS

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I. Environment:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
II. Food Sources: 
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
III: Clothing/Shelter:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
IV. Family: 
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
V. Community:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
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Text, photos and recordings by John Tyman
Intended for Educational Use Only.
Copyright Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford University, 2008.
Contact Dr. John Tyman for more information regarding licensing.

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