Tupiq

Inuit family with Malamute outside a tupik, ca. 1915

The tupiq^[1] (plural: tupiit,^[2] Inuktitut syllabics: ᑐᐱᖅ^[3]) is a traditional Inuit tent made from seal^[4] or caribou^[5] skin. Inuit must kill 5 to 10 ugjuk^[1][6] (bearded seals) to make a seal skin tent. If a man goes hunting for four to five, he would bring a small tent made out of five ugjuit. A family tent would be made of ten or more ugjuit.

Fabrication and use

After the bearded seal is killed, its fat is scraped off, then the skin is stretched to dry. Finally, women will sew it together to make a tent.

The tupiq was used on the land not on the sea ice. It was portable for travel and lasted several years. When stored over the winter, the tupiq had to be kept away from dogs. In the summer the tupiq was used as shelter, then in the fall when it got colder, the Inuit moved into sod houses (qammaq) and the tupiq was used for the roof. In winter, the Inuit lived in igluit when the snow was good enough to build them. Then in the spring when the iglu melted, they moved back into the tupiq.

The tupiq was important traditionally, but is rarely used in modern times. Today most Inuit use canvas tents called tupikhaq.^[1]

References

1. Ohokak, G.; M. Kadlun; B. Harnum. Inuinnaqtun-English Dictionary (PDF). Kitikmeot Heritage Society. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
2. Grant, Shelagh (2002-11-05). "Appendix Three". Arctic Justice: On Trial for Murder, Pond Inlet, 1923. McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 277. ISBN 978-0773529298. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
3. "Tupiq". Asuilaak Living Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
4. Larsen, Olga Popovič; Tyas, Andy (2003-01-01). "3". Conceptual Structural Design: Bridging the Gap Between Architects and Engineers. ICE Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-0727732354. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
5. Warm Season Dwellings -Tupiq
6. "Bearded seal". Asuilaak Living Dictionary. Retrieved 2013-03-20.