A

Aglu

A hole in the sea ice where seals come up for air.

Ajjagatuk

A toy designed to develop the survival skills of Inuk children. It is made of pieces of bone (one large and one small). The large bone has one or more holes drilled into both ends. The small bone is attached to the large bone with a piece of sinew. The child holds the large piece of bone in one hand and, with an upward motion, he/she tries to catch the small bone in one of the drilled holes.

Akpak

A murre; a large member of the auk family, similar to penguins in their appearance and behaviour, but can fly. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. It spends most of its time at sea, only coming to land to breed on rocky cliff shores or islands.

Akuliakat

A point of land between two bays.

Amaruk

A wolf.

Amaut

The pouch in the amautiq in which a baby is carried.

Amautiq (Amautik)

A woman’s parka with a large hood. It is distinguished from a man’s parka by the u-shaped skirt in the front. Also, a traditional Inuit woman’s parka with an enlarged hood to facilitate carrying a baby.

Ammituq

Strait or narrows.

Anakoq

The Inutituk word for shaman.

Angatkut (Angatkuq or Angakuq)

A shaman; a person who mediates between the human and spirit worlds to heal the sick, ensure good weather, and abundant hunting. Shamans were aided by helping spirits, usually those of animals. Through a process of transformation, the shaman would assume the forms of these spirits.

Annuraat

Clothes made from the skins of caribou, seal, eider ducks, dogs, and other animals.

Ataupluta

Autumn trip to the sea ice.

Atigi

A parka.

Avatak

A seal skin float. All openings on a cured seal skin are tightly sealed, and the skin is then inflated and attached by a line of sinew to a harpoon. When a hunter spears a sea animal with a harpoon, the avatak floats on the water to mark the animal. The avatak is carried in the boats during a hunting expedition.

Avedlek

The Inuktitut word for “outermost.” It refers to the furthest point, often used to describe a point of land furthest from the mainland or a settlement.

Ayagak

Ball and pin game.

B

Baleen

Refers to the use of a stiff, flexible, black, or dark grey material derived from the filter-feeding plates in the upper jaw of bowhead whales.

Bow Drill

A traditional, hand-operated, multi-part tool used for boring holes in hard materials (bone, ivory, antler, wood) and for starting fires.

C

Cardboard cut

A relief-type print similar to a woodcut but produces a softer effect. The process was tried experimentally in Povungnituk circa 1962.

Chop (Chop Mark)

Small, stamped, or embossed symbols used primarily in printmaking to identify the artist, the printer, and the community co-operative where the print was produced. Adopted from Japanese printmaking traditions in the late 1950s in Kinngait (Cape Dorset), these marks are crucial for distinguishing original, limited-edition Inuit fine art prints from reproductions.

Copper Inuit

An anthropological designation referring to a group of Inuit, including the residents of Holman, who traditionally manufactured tools and weapons from the abundant natural copper found in the region in which they lived.

Crests

In the context of Inuit art, “crests” are not typically used in the same hereditary clan-insignia sense as in Northwest Coast Indigenous cultures (e.g., Raven or Eagle crests). Instead, Inuit art focuses on symbols that reflect personal identity, spiritual connection to the land, or specific, individual, and, more recently, cultural narratives.

D

Disc number / ujamik or ujamiit (plural)

Refers to a controversial, government-imposed identification system used between 1941 and the late 1970s, where Inuit individuals were assigned a unique alphanumeric code alongside, or instead of a signature. Inuit art created in that period often includes the disc number of the artist, location is the first half (eg. E9-), and the individual number for each person is the second half.

E

Engraving

Refers to a specific, delicate printmaking technique introduced to the Arctic (particularly Cape Dorset) in the early 1960s, distinct from the more common stonecut or soapstone carving. It involves incising fine lines directly onto a metal plate—usually copper—using a sharp tool called a burin.

Etching

Refers to a specific, sophisticated printmaking technique—part of the intaglio family—where artists use acid to bite lines into a metal plate (usually copper, zinc, or steel) to create images. While Inuit art is famously associated with stonecut, etching emerged in the 1960s as a key graphic medium in Cape Dorset (Kinngait), allowing for finer lines and more nuanced tones than relief techniques.

F

Formline element / shape

A specific, highly structured two-dimensional design style characteristic of the Northwest Coast First Nations (including Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples), rather than Inuit art. It consists of flowing, curvilinear lines that define, outline, and fill the space in artwork, often using black, red, and blue-green.

H

Harpoon

A spear-type tool used to hunt polar bears, walrus, etc. As an art element, harpoons—particularly their heads—are often intricately carved from ivory, bone, or antler, bearing markings that represent clan identity or spiritual, magical, or shamanic significance.

I

Iggaak

Refers to traditional Inuit snow goggles, which are considered one of the earliest forms of protective eyewear in the world, dating back at least 800 to 2,000 years.

Igimak

A harpoon head traditionally made of ivory, used mainly for hunting larger animals from the kayak, including walrus, beluga, and bearded seal.

Illuk

An Inuktitut term meaning “house,” “home,” or “building”. While widely known in English as “igloo” (specifically referring to a snow house), in Inuit culture, illuk refers to any type of dwelling, including sod houses, tents, or modern homes.

Inua

Refers to the “spirit,” “soul,” or “life force” present in all people, animals, landscapes, and elements of nature. It represents a foundational belief in the interconnectedness of all living and non-living things.

Inuit – singular: Inuk

Meaning “the people”—a group of culturally and historically similar Indigenous peoples traditionally inhabiting the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon (traditionally), and Alaska. The Inuit languages are part of the Eskaleut languages, also known as Inuit-Yupik-Unangan and as Eskimo–Aleut.

Inukshuk

A traditional Inuit stone landmark or cairn, translating to “in the likeness of a human” or “a man of stone.” These often human-like, or stacked rock structures serve as navigational tools in the Arctic, guiding travellers, indicating food caches, marking hunting grounds, and serving as sacred, symbolic, or warning markers.

Inuktitut

The language of the Inuit people (Eskimo-Aleut). An ancient language, and one of the official languages of Greenland, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories, Nunavik (Arctic Quebec); there are six regional dialects. The syllabics for the previously oral language were developed in the 1870s.

Iqaluk

Refers to a personal name belonging to several prominent Inuit artists, rather than a general term for a specific type of art. In Inuktitut, the word iqaluk refers to a fish, specifically a char.

Ivory

A material derived from whale teeth (sperm and orcas) as well as walrus and

narwhal tusks, fashioned into carvings as well as hand tools, fish hooks, and other

utilitarian objects.

K

Kagee

A dance house; a place of celebration where drums are played while others dance and sing.

Kakivak

A traditional Inuit three-pronged fishing spear used to catch fish in shallow water.

Kamik

Refers to traditional, handcrafted Inuit soft boots made from sealskin or caribou hide, known for being waterproof, durable, and often adorned with intricate, culturally significant patterns.

Katajjaq (Katajjait)

A traditional form of Inuit throat singing, often described as a vocal game, originating from the eastern Arctic, particularly Nunavik and South Baffin Island.

Katilvik

A gathering or meeting place. Also the name of a database of Inuit and First Nations artists created by Waddington’s.

Kayak

Meaning “man’s boat” or “hunter’s boat” in Inuktitut, a fundamental element of Inuit culture, representing thousands of years of arctic survival, engineering, and, in modern contexts, a symbol of cultural, artistic, and historical revival; also qajaq.

Kingmitokvik

In Inuktitut, “the place where dogs are kept.”

Komatik

A traditional Inuit sled designed for travelling over snow and ice, featuring two wooden runners, a platform, and crossbars lashed together with rope or rawhide.

Kudlik (qulliq)

A traditional Inuit crescent-shaped oil lamp carved from soapstone, historically vital for providing light, heat, and cooking capabilities in the Arctic.

Kuletak

Refers to a qulittaq (also spelled kuletaq or qulittak), which is a traditional Inuit inner coat or parka, usually made of caribou skin.

L

Linocut

A relief printmaking technique where artists carve designs into linoleum sheets, similar to traditional stonecut methods but using softer materials. Utilized alongside other print forms in Arctic co-ops since the 1950s, this accessible medium allows for bold lines, stark contrast, and the creation of intimate, modern, or traditional Inuit imagery.

M

Mask

Traditional, spiritually significant artifacts used in ceremonies, shamanistic rituals, and festivals to represent spirits, animals, or ancestors. Primarily carved from wood (spruce, cottonwood) or crafted from sealskin, they often feature elements like fur, feathers, and painted details.

Monotype

A printmaking technique used to create a unique, one-of-a-kind image by applying ink or paint to a smooth, non-absorbent surface (such as glass, plastic, or metal) and transferring it onto paper.

N

Narwhal

An Arctic whale; meaning “the one that points to the sky,” known for its spiraled ivory tusk, often depicted in sculpture, stonecut, and drawings; also known as qilalugaq or qernartaq.

Nauja

Refers to the Inuktitut word for “seagull” and is the name of a community (formerly Repulse Bay) in Nunavut known for producing high-quality soapstone, bone, and ivory carvings.

Nuglugartuq

Refers to a traditional, competitive Inuit game often depicted in art, specifically the “ring and pin” game.

P

Panak

A traditional Inuit broad knife specifically used for cutting blocks of snow to build an igloo.

Q

Qaat

A very warm mattress made from caribou hide.

Qajaq

Meaning “man’s boat” or “hunter’s boat” in Inuktitut, a fundamental element of Inuit culture, representing thousands of years of arctic survival, engineering, and, in modern contexts, a symbol of cultural, artistic, and historical revival; also kayak.

Qamutiik

A traditional Inuit sled designed for traveling and hauling heavy loads over snow and ice. It is a vital, enduring piece of Inuit technology, adapted for the Arctic environment for centuries and still in common use today.

Qulliq

A traditional Inuit crescent-shaped oil lamp, usually carved from soapstone, that burns seal blubber with a moss or Arctic cotton wick.

Qurmaq

Inuit culture refers to a traditional, semi-subterranean dwelling, often described as a spring house or a “fall house.”

S

Sananguagait

An Inuktitut term for Inuit carvings, translating to “things made” or “small replicas of real things.”

Sedna

The central Inuit goddess of the sea and marine life, frequently depicted in art as a mermaid-like figure with a human upper body and a fish or seal tail. The story of Sedna, which is a creation myth, describes how she came to rule over Adlivun, the equivalent of the underworld in Inuit religion.

Seekoo

The Inuktitut word for sea ice. In the context of Inuit art and culture, it carries significant meaning, representing more than just a physical substance, but a vital, living structure that connects the Inuit to their land, culture, and way of life.

Serpentine

One of the most common types of stone used in contemporary Inuit carving, accounting for approximately 80% of carvings produced today. It is a semi-soft, metamorphic rock often found throughout the Arctic—particularly in the Kinngait (Cape Dorset), Kimmirut, Iqaluit, Gjoa Haven, and Taloyoak regions.

Shaman

A central, powerful figure representing a spiritual healer, seer, and mediator between the human and spirit worlds. Depicted in carvings, prints, and drawings, they are often portrayed in transformative, hybrid animal-human forms or skeletal shapes, symbolising their ability to travel between realms, foresee events, and cure the sick.

Silkscreen

A stencil-based printmaking technique used to create bold, graphic images with flat, unmodulated colour. It involves forcing ink through a prepared, porous mesh screen onto paper, often used for detailed colour shading. It emerged as a refined method in Inuit art, evolving from early, simple stencil techniques.

Soapstone

A soft, metamorphic rock primarily composed of talc, renowned in Inuit art for its ease of carving and “soapy” or greasy texture.

Stonecut

A distinctive Inuit relief printmaking technique developed in the 1950s, particularly in Cape Dorset (Kinngait), where artists carve designs into flat, locally sourced stone blocks.

Syllabics (Inuit)

A writing system adopted in the early 1900s for Inuktitut, frequently appearing on carvings, prints, and drawings to sign the artist’s name, community, or title.

T

Thule

Refers to the prehistoric ancestors of modern Inuit (approximately 1000–1600 A.D.) who migrated from Alaska across the Canadian Arctic, establishing a culture with distinct artistic traditions.

Transformation

Represents the spiritual, fluid, and interconnected nature of life, frequently depicting the metamorphosis of humans into animals (shamans, bears, birds, sea creatures).

Tuktu

The Inuktitut word for caribou (or reindeer). In Inuit art and culture, it represents a fundamental source of survival, providing meat for food, skins for clothing, and materials for tools.

Tupiq

A traditional Inuit summer tent, historically crafted from seal or caribou skins and used as a portable, seasonal dwelling.

U

Ujjuk

The Inuktitut term for the bearded seal, which holds a position of high significance in Arctic Inuit culture and subsistence.

Ulu

A traditional, crescent-shaped knife used by Inuit, Iñupiat, Yupik, and Aleut women for thousands of years. It is a quintessential, multi-purpose tool and a powerful cultural symbol representing women’s work, skill, and resilience.

Umiaq

A traditional, large, open Inuit boat made of a wood or bone frame covered in seal/walrus skin, historically used for transporting families, cargo, and hunting.

Unaaq

A traditional Inuit harpoon, commonly depicted in Inuit sculpture and art as a symbol of hunting, survival, and craftsmanship.

Uppiq

Refers to the snowy owl in Inuktitut, a highly significant, frequently depicted subject in Inuit art symbolising wisdom, resilience, and guidance.

Uviluq

Refers to a mussel or shell.

W

Weir

A traditional fishing structure, typically constructed from stone, used to trap fish in rivers or along the coast. In artistic representation, it is a significant theme highlighting the connection between Inuit, the land, and sustainable food harvesting.

Woodcut

Inuit art primarily adapted woodcut-style relief printing techniques, largely inspired by Japanese methods in the 1950s, but often utilised local stone for carving instead of wood due to environmental constraints. These prints are typically collaborative, featuring bold, graphic, and often monochromatic or limited-colour images.