Inuvialuit & the MacFarlane Collection
This collection of artifacts/belongings, made by Inuvialuit of the Anderson River Region, was assembled by and named after Roderick MacFarlane. MarFarlane was a Hudson’s Bay trader who purchased the objects in the 1860s, when he ran the Hudson’s Bay post at Fort Anderson. The collection includes a rich array of 300 cultural items, such as household tools, clothing and weaponry. It also includes over 5000 natural history items, particularly birds eggs and animal skeletons. The MacFarlane Collection became one of the first museum collections to be housed at the newly created Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.
It’s quite interesting to be holding one in my hand, wondering how many birds or animals that person harvested with a weapon like this.
James Pokiak
In 2009, after nearly 150 years in the Smithsonian’s care, a delegation of Inuvialuit Elders and traditional experts, along with videographers and anthropologists, travelled to Washington to conduct a week-long workshop with the collection. As curators pulled intricate items of clothing, tools, hunting, and artwork from storage, Inuvialuit delegates recalled and interpreted how many of these objects had once been used. The trip launched a much broader program of outreach with Inuvialuit youth, Elders, and community members, and helped generate new knowledge about the MacFarlane collection and its ongoing life in Inuvialuit communities. It also inspired the re-creation of cultural objects and development of educational materials. During the time in Washington, Elder Albert Elias described the MacFarlane Collection as “our living history”, which became the name of the project. It also inspired the name of the original website, which launched in 2012 and describes Inuvialuit engagement with the MacFarlane Collection: “Inuvialuit Pitqusiit Inuuniarutait: Inuvialuit Living History”.
Inuvialuit Communications Society produced the film A Case of Access about this project, watch it here.
Inuvialuit delegation at the Smithsonian. The people shown in this photograph are looking at belongings in the MacFarlane Collection during a research visit to the Smithsonian Institution in 2009. Left to right: Keris Gruben, Shayne Cockney, Catherine Cockney, Freda Raddi, Albert Elias, Helen Gruben. Albert Elias is holding a model qayaq (kayak). Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Catherine Cockney (left) and Freda Raddi examining a tapsi (belt). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Albert Elias examining a pitiksivialuk (bow). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Keris Gruben with a wolverine skin mumrutit (headband). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
James Pokiak demonstrates a miluqsaun (spear throwing board). James Pokiak demonstrates a miluqsaun (spear throwing board), MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Albert Elias and Helen Gruben with an adjgaak (glove). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Mervin Joe holding a woman's qusungaq (outer parka). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Shayne Cockney demonstrating idjgaaq (snow goggles). MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution, 2009. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Albert Elias, Catherine Cockney, Keris Gruben, and Freda Raddi at the Smithsonian.
Belongings
Qayaq (kayak) models. Two qayaq models in the MacFarlane Collection, Smithsonian Institution. Left: National Museum of Natural History/MacFarlane Collection/E11636; right: National Museum of Natural History/MacFarlane Collection/E7476. Photo credit: Kate Hennessy.
Tapsi (belt). This tapsi is made from a wide strip of hide with muskox hoof sheaths attached by sinew and hide thongs. The hoof sheaths have been modified by cutting notches along the edges. A brass button is attached by a piece of sinew at one end of the belt strap and serves as a fastener. The strap has a loop at the opposite end for receiving the fastener. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E2062.
Pitiksivialuk (bow). This pitiksivialuk is made from a single piece of spruce that has been bent into a 'recurve' shape. Braided sinew laid along its back adds added strength and elasticity to the bow. The bowstring is made from braided sinew. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E1106.
Mumrutit (headband). This mumrutit is made from a wolverine pelt with a string of glass beads attached to the nose. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E7733.
Miluqsaun (spear throwing board). A miluqsaun helps the hunter to throw a spear or harpoon farther and with more accuracy than by hand alone, especially when seated in a qayaq (kayak). This example is made from a piece of wood with a shallow bed cut lengthwise into the top surface. The shaft of a spear or harpoon would be placed in this groove and held at the end that has a hole for a finger. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E7423.
Adjgaak (pair of gloves). Each of the fingers of this adjgaak are made from a separate piece of caribou skin sewn onto the hand piece. They are decorated with blue beads across the knuckles and near the cuff. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E1716.
Qusungaq (outer parka). This woman's qusungaq is made of reindeer skins that might have been imported from Siberia. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian/ Institution/E1073.
Idjgaaq (snow goggles). People wore idjgaaq to prevent snow blindness by reducing the glare of the sun on snow and ice. These ones have a wood eye shade and hide straps. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E1650.
Beluga whale hunters. This illustration on a small piece of wood shows hunters in qadjat (kayaks) hunting qilalukkat - beluga whales. Photo credit: National Museum of Natural History/Smithsonian Institution/E2545-02A.
