Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 08:47
Forums
Nuvuk Archaeology Studies

On the picture next to the topic who is on the expedition how did that person get so high in the air?

Jonathan Schickel

Mr. Beals Earth Science

Period 3

Billings,Mt

Thu, 03/13/2008 - 13:17

Frank Kelley

Hi Jonathan,  Thanks for the question, I didn't take the picture or see it happen but I was curious too. I've been reading about the native people in the area, the Inupiaq and one of their celebrations involves launching people in the air and catching them with a walrus skin blanket. You might have done something similar with a parachute in PE or maybe on a trampoline. I'll see if I can learn more about it when I am up there.
Keep in touch,
Frank 

Thu, 04/10/2008 - 12:17

Anne Jensen

The photo is from a celebration called "Nalukataq" which is held by successful whaling captians after spring whaling. The person is being tossed on a blanket made out of the covering of an "umiaq" or skin boat, which is made of bearded seal skin, since this photo was taken in Barrow. The people around the bottom are pulling on rope handles put on to toss the person in the air.
 
Anne Jensen