Nalukataq
nalukataq inupiaq nɐlukɐtɑq naluk throw underhand toss kataq spring whaling festival iñupiat northern alaska especially north slope borough characterized namesake dramatic eskimo blanket toss marking end spring whaling season nalukataq creates sense entire community want little muktuk take part blanket tossat time however nalukataq relinquish original purpose recognize annual success prowess umialik whaling crew captainnalukataq tradition always reflected process survival inherent sharingcrucial tothe arctic spring whale hunting season successful crew celebrate nalukataq festival associated summer solstice take place june scheduled avoid conflict village order allow friend relative distant community share bounty fun utqiaġvik example nalukataq usually held third week june village may week week scheduling depends many whale caught well factor course couple week multiple nalukataq celebration may held may put several captain utqiaġvik large population event point hope alaska village along north slope also stage several example kaktovik nuiqsut nalukataq serf two purpose first celebration thanksgiving success second first several time year quaq frozen whale meat muktuk whale blubber skin distributed community ability produce distribute wealth among community highly valued eskimo culture whaling captain always give away large portion whale gain great stature respect within village every whale catch captain umialik able sponsor host nalukataqtitchi festival catching whale festive clothing commonly worn event highly decorated mukluks parka seal caribou wolverine wolf fox abundant game played contemporary eskimo apart ceremony part nelukatuk legend tell raven gave eskimo blanket toss lasting three day qagruq avarriqirut igauqtut several stage celebration begin prayer church service raising crew flag around noon windbreak often constructed front captain qalgit bread coffee initially various soup goose caribou distributed following food one part another whale flipper certain gut whale offered visitor break filled singing story telling whaling crew begin distribute catch family attends event amount given away depends size number whale harvested first come quaq whale meat frozen raw cut cube next avarraq fluke whale cut thin strip distributed various cut muktuk distributed frozen skin hiatus couple hour follows time everyone feast catch interim period nalukataq blanket erected blanket mapkuq may made several walrus bearded seal ugruk skin canvas sewn together circle square outdoors rope extends corner pulled tightly four wooden beam formerly three whale bone using block tackle raise blanket waist height without beam men woman naluaqtit puller spring centuriesold trampoline circle blanket hold rope woven around edge rhythmically pull blanket throw blanket dancer nalukataqtuaq air effective trampoline height twenty feetsix meter estimated height foot considered possible minimum goal land back one foot next many time possible advanced trick include kick flip anyone may thrown blanket traditionally captain wife go first originally threw good baleen tobacco clothing tool food mean demonstrating ability provide today tradition evolved wife captain throw candy surrounding child airborne giving also known tossing nalluġruq nullui event highlight namesake festival may last several hour celebratory recreation may originated purpose able assist hunting helping participant eye game farther distance allow signaling long distance blanket toss open viewing tourist scott gomez tossed twenty feetsix meter former champion state representative reggie joule appeared tonight show discus blanket toss nalukataq men womens event world eskimo indian olympics one goal olympics touch ceiling big dipper arena carlson center following blanket toss everyone gather traditional dance everyone welcome dance beat set several men boy playing drum made traditionally skin liver lung whale today might also made synthetic material men also sing song nalukataun dance following another prayer evening close addition dance everyone participates usually dance organized dance group village sing traditional song perform essentially stage show everyone best front row seat always reserved elder nalukataq festival held conclusion whaling season featuring blanket tossing dance mapkuq blanket originally bearded seal skin used toss jumper nalluaqtit tosser people holding skin nalukataqtuaq jumper person skin nalukataun song sung nalukataq nalukattat nalukataq attendee aboriginal whaling arctic winter game high kick messenger feast brown tricia charlie blanket toss martinsen sarah illustrator graphic art book isbn alaskan blanket tossing discoverycom retrieved december world indian eskimo olympics weio youtube blanket toss inside uploaded retrieved december