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

An open letter to the CFL and the Ottawa football team owners

I am very much looking forward to the CFL’s return to Canada’s capital. Football holds a special place in the history and heart of our beautiful city. I’m confident that the new team will be a source of excitement and pride for thousands of fans.
Though there are rumors of a new name, as of today, the team has not yet chosen its moniker.
The CFL has previously demonstrated its comfort with duplicating team names. While Ottawa is indeed home to a significant Inuit population, I’d discourage duplicating Edmonton’s CFL team name. Similarly, even though there are many First Nations people here on Algonquin Unceded Territory, I’d also suggest you steer clear of duplicating Nepean’s name: “the Redskins”. 
If you need to duplicate a team name, why not go with the “Roughriders”. Saskatchewan was ok with it before, maybe they will be again, and it could help us recall an exciting era for football in this great city.

Special edition, off-season Eskimo post. However, it is important to note that Inuit remained clothed in various styles throughout the year. My friend Janice sent in this photo. She said, “here’s one of me in my emilyandfin dress and aldo shoes.” 

Special edition, off-season Eskimo post. However, it is important to note that Inuit remained clothed in various styles throughout the year. My friend Janice sent in this photo. She said, “here’s one of me in my emilyandfin dress and aldo shoes.” 

I met Kathleen (on the right) playing volleyball. She’s really good, and her team always kicks my team’s ass. She sent me this picture: “I always dress for comfort, but often you will find me accessorizing with sealskin. Left of me is my friend Kristi from Norway’s Riddu Riddu festival.”

I met Kathleen (on the right) playing volleyball. She’s really good, and her team always kicks my team’s ass. She sent me this picture: “I always dress for comfort, but often you will find me accessorizing with sealskin. Left of me is my friend Kristi from Norway’s Riddu Riddu festival.”

Brian is another twitter friend of mine. I look forward to meeting him in real life one day. He sent me this picture, which he describes below.  Here I am with my winter hunting gear: Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics toque Oalkey Neck Warmer Home made winter parka with a Canada Goose Anorak parka over top Polar Bear hide wind pants Sorel Intrepid Expedition Boots and Raber Gloves. Temperature was around -46 degrees Celsius (with the wind) at the time of the picture. Was headed out polar bear hunting.

Brian is another twitter friend of mine. I look forward to meeting him in real life one day. He sent me this picture, which he describes below. 
Here I am with my winter hunting gear:
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics toque
Oalkey Neck Warmer
Home made winter parka with a Canada Goose Anorak parka over top
Polar Bear hide wind pants
Sorel Intrepid Expedition Boots
and Raber Gloves.
Temperature was around -46 degrees Celsius (with the wind) at the time of the picture. Was headed out polar bear hunting.

Here’s my friend Victoria, who is originally from Kangirsuk in Nunavik, but now lives in Greenland. I’m glad to have some Greenland Eskimo representation on the blog! Thanks, Victoria! Victoria once told me that I reminded her very much of my Uncle Bob. I guess she wasn’t too far off the mark. See this. (CLICK) 

On the left is a photo of Victoria in Nuuk, Greenland, which her friend Dida took. Victoria didn’t describe her outfit in this photograph. However, I can tell she is wearing appropriate clothing for the weather and conditions she was in at the time.

On the right is a photo of Victoria in a Christmas Party dress with a pair of angel wings. 

Here is a photo of my friend Jobie. Of all my facebook friends, I like reading Jobie’s facebook status updates the most. I laugh hard every time I see something new pop up from Jobie on my timeline. Jobie describes his clothing in the third person. Jobie wearing a Montreal Expos ball cap, a smile, seal skin mitts, a Columbia sportswear jacket, and Wranger jeans.

Here is a photo of my friend Jobie. Of all my facebook friends, I like reading Jobie’s facebook status updates the most. I laugh hard every time I see something new pop up from Jobie on my timeline.

Jobie describes his clothing in the third person. Jobie wearing a Montreal Expos ball cap, a smile, seal skin mitts, a Columbia sportswear jacket, and Wranger jeans.

!!! DOUBLE ESKIMO SINGING LADIES !!! Here’s a photo of Sylvia and Sarah. Sylvia is wearing an shirt made by Victoria Okpik with seal skin that was dyed red. Sarah’s is not dyed. 

!!! DOUBLE ESKIMO SINGING LADIES !!!

Here’s a photo of Sylvia and Sarah. Sylvia is wearing an shirt made by Victoria Okpik with seal skin that was dyed red. Sarah’s is not dyed. 

Here is a photo of my friend Pauletta. Pauletta and I share the same birthday, and we grew up together as neighbours and as classmates in Goose Bay, Labrador. Pauletta describes her outfit: “Here I am wearing a Canada Goose Down Jacket with my mitts my husband gave me, made out of leather with rabbit fur and floral design, made in Kangiqsualujjuaq, QC, Nunavik. Also wearing soft moc boots, factory made kamiks! Ready for the Cold winter!”

Here is a photo of my friend Pauletta. Pauletta and I share the same birthday, and we grew up together as neighbours and as classmates in Goose Bay, Labrador.

Pauletta describes her outfit: “Here I am wearing a Canada Goose Down Jacket with my mitts my husband gave me, made out of leather with rabbit fur and floral design, made in Kangiqsualujjuaq, QC, Nunavik. Also wearing soft moc boots, factory made kamiks! Ready for the Cold winter!”

!!! DOUBLE THE FOLKS !!! DOUBLE THE DRESSING UP LIKE ESKIMOS !!! Here’s a photo that Adamina and Jenny sent me. Adamina describes the photo and her outfit like this. “This photo was taken in front of the University College building on the UWO campus in London, Ontario. I am wearing a navy blue down coat and black faux leather gloves-both from Mexx. Jeans from American Eagle and olive Tretorn calf-length rain boots. My friend Jenny is an Inupiat from Nome, Alaska! She is an awesome human being who was on exchange at Western for one semester from the University of Washington in Seattle. Really amazing that we ended up in London at the same point in our respective lives.” Jenny’s description: “I am wearing an American Apparel hat, Merrell jacket, Cheap Monday jeans and converse shoes and fair trade wool gloves.”

!!! DOUBLE THE FOLKS !!! DOUBLE THE DRESSING UP LIKE ESKIMOS !!!

Here’s a photo that Adamina and Jenny sent me. Adamina describes the photo and her outfit like this.

“This photo was taken in front of the University College building on the UWO campus in London, Ontario. I am wearing a navy blue down coat and black faux leather gloves-both from Mexx. Jeans from American Eagle and olive Tretorn calf-length rain boots.

My friend Jenny is an Inupiat from Nome, Alaska! She is an awesome human being who was on exchange at Western for one semester from the University of Washington in Seattle. Really amazing that we ended up in London at the same point in our respective lives.”
Jenny’s description: “I am wearing an American Apparel hat, Merrell jacket, Cheap Monday jeans and converse shoes and fair trade wool gloves.”
Here is a picture of my friend Lisa. She’s pretty awesome. In this photo, she’s skating on a forest path in Ste Catherine de la Jacques Cartier. Side note: Cartier was one of the first “explorers” from France to come to North America/Turtle Island, and he met the Haudenosaunee people. You can see the real life reenactment here.  Lisa provided this photo with the description below.  “I am using my skates from Canadian Tire, acrylic scarf that I initially thought was made of wool and it isn’t, my down filled parka was a gift from my mother 30 years ago and I’ve changed the fox fur around the hood since. My “NorthFace” windproof pants are actually from a Sherpa shop in the Himalayas.  My mittens are from a Hunter Support shop in one of the communities I’ve been to in Nunavik and my hat is an Ivakkak dog team race promotional item I got for free!”

Here is a picture of my friend Lisa. She’s pretty awesome. In this photo, she’s skating on a forest path in Ste Catherine de la Jacques Cartier.

Side note: Cartier was one of the first “explorers” from France to come to North America/Turtle Island, and he met the Haudenosaunee people. You can see the real life reenactment here. 

Lisa provided this photo with the description below. 

“I am using my skates from Canadian Tire, acrylic scarf that I initially thought was made of wool and it isn’t, my down filled parka was a gift from my mother 30 years ago and I’ve changed the fox fur around the hood since. My “NorthFace” windproof pants are actually from a Sherpa shop in the Himalayas.  My mittens are from a Hunter Support shop in one of the communities I’ve been to in Nunavik and my hat is an Ivakkak dog team race promotional item I got for free!”