Folks Dressed Up Like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe helps to make the season bright, but not many people know how Eskimos dress.

Eskimos (in Canada, at least) generally prefer to be referred to as Inuit, which means "people" in Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit. Inuit have a variety of modes of dress.

This website shows you the diversity of Inuit style, so you can visualize it better, when you hear the song during this Christmas season.

Let's challenge the stereotypes! Email me your pictures at folksdresseduplikeeskimos@gmail.com

Nakurmiik!!

Joseph Flowers, Inuk from Nunatsiavut and Nunavik
Susan, who is holding the seal, is wearing a skidoo brand jacket. Crochet Inuit hunters hat made locally in Nain, Nunatsiavut. Pualuks store bought from Northern. Elsie is wearing Nunatsiavut parka from government building, Pualuks from Kuujjuaq.  Cap from Mother n Law. Smile. They were on the way fishing for the day a came across this beautiful baby seal. Nain, Nunatsiavut.

Susan, who is holding the seal, is wearing a skidoo brand jacket. Crochet Inuit hunters hat made locally in Nain, Nunatsiavut. Pualuks store bought from Northern.
Elsie is wearing Nunatsiavut parka from government building, Pualuks from Kuujjuaq.  Cap from Mother n Law. Smile.
They were on the way fishing for the day a came across this beautiful baby seal.
Nain, Nunatsiavut.

Here is my friend Maggie, with tunniit, which are traditional Inuit tattoos and she is wearing a beaded arnautik, which is a woman’s dress. 

If you ever need English-Inuktitut or Inuktitut-English interpretation or translation, Maggie does a great job. Contact me, and I’ll forward your translation needs to her.

Two of my cousins Bailey and Gabby, dressed up like Eskimos in northern Labrador. On the left, a parka, and on the right, a pull-over type of winter coat called a dickie.

Two of my cousins Bailey and Gabby, dressed up like Eskimos in northern Labrador. On the left, a parka, and on the right, a pull-over type of winter coat called a dickie.

From my friend Quvi, an Alaskan Eskimo! International Eskimos! Bonus points! Burgundy wool and black brocade coat, with black cotton lining, no label, given by a friend Leopard-print polyester scarf, no label, given by a friend Leopard-print and rose-patterned dress by IRE (USA), given by my sister Black mini-fishnet tights, no label, recommended by another opera singer in 2000 as being “run-proof” (true enough to be useful for the multiple times I had to change in and out of them for rehearsals and performances) Grey leather pumps, given by a neighbour the night this photo was taken, after she saw I was going to wear six-hole Doc Marten leather boots Oversize pearls, from a church bazaar Gold wedding ring and gold “ALASKA” gold rush ring with dogsled team and rising sun, both from my mother Burgundy costume gem cocktail ring, salmon-coloured stone antique-style ring, both from church bazaar

From my friend Quvi, an Alaskan Eskimo! International Eskimos! Bonus points!

  • Burgundy wool and black brocade coat, with black cotton lining, no label, given by a friend
  • Leopard-print polyester scarf, no label, given by a friend
  • Leopard-print and rose-patterned dress by IRE (USA), given by my sister
  • Black mini-fishnet tights, no label, recommended by another opera singer in 2000 as being “run-proof” (true enough to be useful for the multiple times I had to change in and out of them for rehearsals and performances)
  • Grey leather pumps, given by a neighbour the night this photo was taken, after she saw I was going to wear six-hole Doc Marten leather boots
  • Oversize pearls, from a church bazaar
  • Gold wedding ring and gold “ALASKA” gold rush ring with dogsled team and rising sun, both from my mother
  • Burgundy costume gem cocktail ring, salmon-coloured stone antique-style ring, both from church bazaar
From my dear Aunt Shirley: “Sealskin jacket made by Gail Moss of Happy Valley…sealskin mitts belonging to Denise Pardy…not sure where they were made…Nordic style cap formerly owned by Denise Pardy but fits my head better lol….I believe purchased at Hamilton Drugs”

From my dear Aunt Shirley: “Sealskin jacket made by Gail Moss of Happy Valley…sealskin mitts belonging to Denise Pardy…not sure where they were made…Nordic style cap formerly owned by Denise Pardy but fits my head better lol….I believe purchased at Hamilton Drugs”

This is my niece Fern, dressed in a parka from Labrador, a pair of Ugg boots, and a jean skirt. I’m not certain where her mitts and socks come from. 

This is my niece Fern, dressed in a parka from Labrador, a pair of Ugg boots, and a jean skirt. I’m not certain where her mitts and socks come from. 

This is a photo that my friend Jennifer had taken of her and some friends with Matthew Broderick in New York City in 1997. She’s the one on MB’s left shoulder there. In front of her is Quppa, and on MB’s right side, in front is Annie, Elisapi, and Lydia (with glasses). They are wearing typical late-90s hairstyles, clothing and glasses. I apologize for not having more specifics on their mode of dress. Jennifer said, “Lydia by-passed all the bodyguards while they were filming a movie and yelled ‘Matthew, we’re Eskimos!’ That stopped all movie production right then and there! …I’m surprised they didn’t throw (Lydia) in jail!”

This is a photo that my friend Jennifer had taken of her and some friends with Matthew Broderick in New York City in 1997. She’s the one on MB’s left shoulder there. In front of her is Quppa, and on MB’s right side, in front is Annie, Elisapi, and Lydia (with glasses). They are wearing typical late-90s hairstyles, clothing and glasses. I apologize for not having more specifics on their mode of dress. Jennifer said, “Lydia by-passed all the bodyguards while they were filming a movie and yelled ‘Matthew, we’re Eskimos!’ That stopped all movie production right then and there! …I’m surprised they didn’t throw (Lydia) in jail!”

Says my sister: This photo was taken on a day Jamie and I visited London. We are in the London Eye, overlooking the city. Here I am wearing my cranberry red trench coat, from United Colors of Benetton.  My glasses are Kookai brand. I don’t recall what top I was wearing that day, but I was wearing my nice, Jane Norman black trousers. On my feet, I was wearing my black Converse sneakers. And, I was toting my black, leather purse - not sure of the brand name. (The umbrella isn’t mine).

Says my sister: This photo was taken on a day Jamie and I visited London. We are in the London Eye, overlooking the city.


Here I am wearing my cranberry red trench coat, from United Colors of Benetton.  My glasses are Kookai brand. I don’t recall what top I was wearing that day, but I was wearing my nice, Jane Norman black trousers. On my feet, I was wearing my black Converse sneakers. And, I was toting my black, leather purse - not sure of the brand name. (The umbrella isn’t mine).
Here I am standing in the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC on December 27, 2011. I am in front of the Igloolik display, and I am wearing a pair of Windproof! jeans I got at Uniqlo in New York, black blundstone boots which you may have seen me wear in earlier photos, a McGill Law sweatshirt/hoodie (I just finished my law degree from McGill on December 22), my standard feature Dolce and Gabbana glasses, and a ASolo backpack. I am also carrying a North Face jacket shell, which served me well on this day, because it was really raining hard in DC. 

Here I am standing in the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC on December 27, 2011. I am in front of the Igloolik display, and I am wearing a pair of Windproof! jeans I got at Uniqlo in New York, black blundstone boots which you may have seen me wear in earlier photos, a McGill Law sweatshirt/hoodie (I just finished my law degree from McGill on December 22), my standard feature Dolce and Gabbana glasses, and a ASolo backpack. I am also carrying a North Face jacket shell, which served me well on this day, because it was really raining hard in DC.