Locating/Organizing/Interpreting Information

• Identify art as a source of information
• Interpret art according to content

Analyzing/Synthesizing/Evaluating

• Recognize that Inuit art can be a way of preserving culture and traditions
• Conduct a study for Inuit art to learn about Inuit games as a part of their culture and traditions

Communication Skills

• Play and evaluate a number of Inuit games

Attitude Objectives The student will be encouraged to develop:

• an appreciation for Inuit art, and by extension the role of Inuit games in their culture and traditions
• an appreciation for art as an instrument of communicaiton

Developmental Activities

• Lead a discussion about the role of games in your society. Write student responses on the blackboard.
  
  

  Ask:

  What is your favorite game?

  Explain:

  You can see just from looking at your at your favorite games that there are many types of games. Some games require a lot of room to play and others reqire special equipment. People all over the world play games.

  Ask:

  Why do we play games? List answers on the board: fun, excercise, compete

  Explain:

  When Inuit lived on the land, they invented many different games to play. In the winter they had to spend a lot of time inside their igloos. Igloos are not very big. Can you think of the size of the jump circle in the middle of a basketball court? The floor of many igloos was no bigger than that ring! Inuit had to cook, sleep, play, eat and do everything else to survive in this small space. Sometimes they could not go outside for many days. Why wouldn't they be able to go outside? Do Inuit people still live in igloos in the winter? Most live in houses like you and I. However, many of the games are still played.
  
  

• Inuit invented the games so that they could have fun, but there are many other reasons why they played games. Print overheads of two Inuit artworks that depict games. Go to the web site, click on the artwork to enlarge it and print the enlarged frame. I would suggest using the sculpture of Two Men Playing Tug of War by an unknown artist and Two Women Playing by Lucy Quinnauyuak.

Discuss Two Men Playing Tug of War:

Explain:

These two men are playing a game that is a variation of a game we play called tug of war. This game was played for fun when Inuit lived on the land. But there were other reasons for playing it as well.

Ask:

Can someone describe for me what the rules are for tug of war?
What kinds of skills do you need to play this game? Strength, good grip, endurance, strong arms, back and legs
If you were an Inuk who lived on the land, how would these skills help you in daily life? Pull seals out of the ice, hunting
Could you play this game in a small space?
Why was that important to inuit people? Small amount of space in an igloo
What type of equipment do you need to play this game? None

Explain:

This was important. Inuit games rarely required much equipment. Inuit were semi-nomadic. They moved over the land in the summer, following caribou and fish, and out onto the frozen ocean in the winter, following the sea mammals. They could only carry the essentials. Game equipment would be left behind if it was too heavy.

Ask:

If equipment is needed, how would the Inuit have acquired the equipment? Could they buy it from a store? Could they buy equipment for games from a store today?

Discuss Two Women Playing by Lucy Qinnauyuak

Expain:

These two women are playing a game of juggling. They would get together to play these games for enjoyment, as we sometimes do when we get together with friends. The winner was the person who could juggle the longest without dropping a rock. This was traditionally a woman's game, but men sometimes played too.

Ask:

What kinds of skills do you need to play this game? Hand-eye coordination, long attention span
If you were and Inuk who lived on the land, how would these skills help you in daily life? Patience, entertainment, good hand-eye coordination to spear fish/seals
Could you play this game in a small space? Yes
Why was that important to Inuit peopl? Small amount of space in an igloo
What equipment do you need to play this game? Rocks
How would the Inuit have aquired the equipment? Rocks are everywhere up north
Would they carry the equipment around with them? No, there would be rocks at every camp site

• Tell the students that they will have the opportunity to play some Inuit games. After everyone has tried playing each game, sit down in the class room and discuss them in the same manner you discussed the games on the overheads.

Don't forget to do a warm-up with your class before you play these games

Inuit Games to play with your class:

1. Ac Sa Raq (Thong Game)

Materials:

a strong leather belt
two short poles
a mat to sit on

Two contestants sit facing one another with their legs straight and their feet up against each other's. Each player gets a pole, and a belt is strung between them. Each player attempts to pull his opponent up off the ground. This game takes a lot of arm strength. Traditionally, the device used for pulling was made of wood, antler, or walrus ivory and the belt was a short thong of leather.

2. Tirusuraqtut (Kneel Reach)

Materials:

mat to kneel on
block or bean bag

Kneel on the mat and ask your partner to sit on your feet. You may want to put a pillow on your feet. Place one hand behind your back and use the other hand to place a beanbag as far out in front of you as you can, and return to an upright position. Do not touch the floor with either of your hands at any time. Strength is gained in the back and abdominal muscles.

3. Nauktak (Sam's Jumping Game)

Materials:

None

Lie on your back with your feet up against the wall. Mark where the top of your head is by placing a pencil on the floor. Get up and crouch against the wall. Try to jump out to the pencil. This game develops lower body strength.

4. Tiliraginik Qiriqtagtut (Jump Through Stick)

Materials:

Long wooden stick (a broom or broom handle will do)

Hold a long wooden stick with both hands shoulder width apart. Jump over the stick with both feet without letting the stick go. Land on both feet, well-balanced. Repeat the same jump backwards. This game develops your flexibility and agility.

5. Tu Nu Miu (The Back Push)

Materials:

Floor mat
Tape

 

Two contestants sit back to back on a mat. A line is made between them using tape. The object is to be the first to cross the line. You can only touch the ground with your hands and feet. This game requires strong arms and legs.

6. Inuit Style Push-Ups

Materials:

None

 

Get into the position to do a push-up. Push up and clap your hands in front of your chest and land back on both hands. If you can do this three times in a row, make the game harder by clapping your hands behind your back. A strong chest and triceps are needed to compete in this game.

7. Wrist Twist

Materials:

None

 

Two competitors lie down facing each other. Each grab right hands and put their left arms behind there backs.Their right elbows rest on the floor and their legs are crossed. When a signal is made to begin, competitors try to twist each other's hands down to the floor. The action resembles an arm wrestle, with the competitors laying down. The winner is the best out of three. If legs come uncrossed the turn should be redone. Right elbows cannot leave the floor during play. Strong arms help competitors in this game.

Applied Knowledge Activities

• After the students all get a chance at playing each game and you have discussed each game, have them research more about Inuit games. The students could look at the virtual gallery on Inuit games called Active Inside the Igloo on this web site. They could also look at the other web sites and books, such as the ones we used for sources, to learn more about games and the reasons why Inuit played them.
• Students could write a paper about the reasons why Inuit make art about their games and how the games were played.
• Students could take their favorite game and adapt it so that it could be played by an Inuk who lived on the land. They would have to think about space constraints, equipment concerns and the skills developed while playing the game. Adapted games could be played as a wrap-up for the unit.

Today, Inuit still play games like the ones depicted in the artwork in the "Active in the Igloo" virtual exhibition. However, these days, Inuit live in communities in houses, like you and I. They no longer live on the land.

Sources:

Books/Magazines

"Cool Inuit Games", Tony Thomas, Owl Magazine, v. 19, no. 4, April 1994, pp. 22-23.

Web Sites