Volume 11, 1958 - The Arctic Circle - Home

VOL. Xl No.4
THE ARCTIC CIRCULAR
70
1. The first, the traditional period, continued until the
close of the last century and is characterized by an
Eastern Arctic type of social oreanization - very
small communities living on the coast, with some
permanent inland communities. collective caribou
hunting with bow and arrow, and relatively short inland
migrations. Important traits are wintering on the sea
ice, bird dart hunting, "manak" (ligne dormante)
fishing, and spring sealing with the long, sliding harpoon.
Intergroup trade with the Belcher Island people took
place at Little Whale River during the annual trip to the
Hudsonls Bay Company post. The conversion to
Christianity of the Povernitormiut dates back to this period.
2.. The second, or adaptive period, covers the end of the last
century and the first three decades of this century and is
characterized by the decrease and withdrawal inland of
the caribou herds, resulting in long inland summer
migrations of entire Eskimo groups. At the same time
seal hunting specialization took place around Cape Smith
and fishing specialization occurred near the estuaries of
the larger rivers. The establishment of trading posts in
the region shortened the trading trips and encouraged
trapping. The inland territory thus became covered with
a network of individual trap lines "inherited" usually
along kinship lines. The trader had an impo rtant role
in the group and through the debt system he influenced the
prestige structure of the community. His native helper
also exerted considerable influence. A unique type of iron
harpoon was adopted, sealing at the floe edge became
prevalent, and fish nets and steel hooks came into use.
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The third period was one of crisis and reaction and ended
with the beginninG of the present decade. New forms of
collaboration within the kin groups were developed to
allow the purchas e of large production goods. Long inland
migrationscame to an end and were superseded by an
efficient, restricted, system of intensive spring sealing,
summer movements to nearby lakes, and a winter
individual se