Inuvialuit & the Collinson Collection
In the mid 19th century, the British Royal Navy ship HMS Enterprise spent several winters frozen in Inuinnait territory as part of the search for Franklin’s missing ships. Inuinnait actively traded with British crews, who in turn purchased many cultural artifacts/belongings. They met first at Walker Bay, on the west side of Victoria Island (1851-52), not far from present-day Ulukhaqtuuq. The following year they traded at a site near present-day Cambridge Bay (1852-53). Some of these Inuinnait belongings were later sent to the British Museum and became known as the Collinson Collection, after Captain Richard Collinson, who commanded Enterprise.
In 2012, a delegation of Inuinnait Elders and cultural workers from Ulukhaqtuuq travelled to London, England to spend time with their ancestral collections as partof the Pitquhiraluavut Puiglimiatavut: We Will Not Forget Our Ways project. It was a collaboration between the community of Ulukhaqtuuq, the Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, the NWT Literacy Council, the University of Lethbridge, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. Inuinnait delegates visited with belongings at the British Museum, documenting and sharing their findings with the Inuinnait community in Ulukhaqtuuq through presentations, exhibits and discussions. A video of the project, Hivulipta Uqauhiit Tuppaaqtauffaaqtut (Awakening Our Ancestors’ Words), produced by the Inuvialuit Communications Society, is showcased here.
Inuinnait delegation at the British Museum. The people shown in this photograph are posing with a loon bill dance cap, one of the Innuinait belongings in the Collinson Collection, during a research visit to the British Museum in 2012. Left to right: Helen Kitekudlak, Adam Kudlak (seated), Annie Atigihioyak, Mary Avalak, Emily Kudlak (seated), Emily Angulalik. Photo credit: David Stewart, Inuvialuit Communications Society.
Adam Kudlak examines a havik (knife) with a copper blade. Many traditional Iniunnait tools were made with locally-available copper. Because of this, Inuinnait at one time were referred to by outsiders as 'Copper Inuit'. Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: David Stewart, Inuvialuit Communications Society.
Adam Kudlak and Helen Kitekudlak examine a qaryuq (arrow) and auraqtut - check spelling - plural of auraqtuq (bows). Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: David Stewart, Inuvialuit Communications Society.
Emily Kudlak examines a woman's caribou skin atigi (parka). Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: David Stewart, Inuvialuit Communications Society.
Emily Kudlak examines a pair of kammak - check spelling - dual form of kamik (shoes). Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: Helen Balanoff, NWT Literacy Society.
Mary Avalak and Adam Kudlak examine a qunguhingmiaq (necklace). The belonging in this photograph is identified in the British Museum catalogue as a 'shaman's necklace'. Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: Helen Balanoff, NWT Literacy Society.
Mary Avalak (left) and Annie Atigihioyka hold a qilaun (drum). Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: David Stewart, Inuvialuit Communications Society.
Emily Kudlak looks through hiqiniqhiutik (snow goggles). Collinson Collection, British Museum, 2012. Photo credit: Helen Balanoff, NWT Literacy Society.
Belongings
Havik (knife). This havik has a blade fashioned from local copper attached to an antler handle and secured with sinew binding. A leather thong is wrapped around the handle to aid in gripping the knife. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.331.
Uluk - check spelling (two ulus). These uluk (check spelling - dual form of ulu) have copper blades and two-piece handles made of antler. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.326 (left), 327 (right).
Qulliq (lamp). This qulliq is made of soapstone, a soft stone that is relatively easy to carve. Oil burned in a qulliq provided light and heat. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.331.
Auraqtuq (bow). This auraqtuq is made of wood that has been bent into a recurve shape. Braided strands of sinew attached to the provide increased elasticity, making it a powerful hunting weapon. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.475.
Atigi (parka). This is a woman's winter parka, made from caribou skins. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.475.262.
Kammak - check spelling dual form (shoes). The low-cut kammak with crimped uppers shown in this photograph have been identified as dance shoes, worn when performing drum dances. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.475.262.
Kakivak (fish spear). This photograph shows the end of a trident-shaped kakivak used for spearing fish. Barbed side prongs and a centre prong are attached with sinew lashings to a shaft made of wood. Photo credit: British Museum/Collinson Collection/Am1855.11.26.475.262.
