AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women Ulu-Making Workshop

Project Spotlight: Youth from Nain and Hopedale learn cultural tool-making skills.

Indigenous Sovereignty Creating Possible Futures
Two Inuit men work in a wood shop as part of an ulu-making workshop. The man at left uses a hack saw on something held by a clamp on the table while the man at right looks on.

AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women’s Association Inc. (ATRIWAI) was established in March 2007 and incorporated on March 7, 2011 to represent Labrador Inuit Women with the goal of advancing equal participation of Labrador Inuit Women in all aspects of society, socially, culturally, legally and economically.

ATRIWAI, is a non-profit association governed by a voluntary board of directors comprised of twelve regional representatives from Nunatsiavut communities of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and the Canadian Constituency. The Executive committee consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, supported by one staff member.

To learn more about ATRIWAI, visit labradorinuitwomen.com.

 

A photograph of a table with various tools on it. At centre are cutouts in the shape of ulu blades and at left are completed uluit.
PHOTO: SALOME JARARUSE. COURTESY ATRIWAI.

About the Ulu-Making Workshop

AnânauKatiget Tumingit hosted a two day ulu-making workshop for male youth of different ages. Three youth from Nain and Hopedale took part in these workshops. Each youth showed great interest in this cultural tool-making and successfully completed the course. The interest made it very easy for each instructor to teach as the youth were fully engaged and willing to learn.

The Hopedale workshop was held March 16th and 17th with instructor Piercy Boase. The Nain workshop was held March 26th and 27th with John Terriak as the instructor. Both workshops had three participants each.

– Salome Jararuse, Project Lead

Two Inuit men in a woodshop lean over a table, working together to cut out the blades of the uluit.
PHOTO: SALOME JARARUSE. COURTESY ATRIWAI.
A person wearing goggles and work gloves hammers an ulu blade in a woodshop.
PHOTO: SALOME JARARUSE. COURTESY ATRIWAI.

We used hand saws for the blades, aluminum for the stems and wood for handles. I made the blades myself because it involves power tools. They made handles and stems by themselves after I demonstrated how to make them, we always used safety gear. The ulus were a hit. People had fun making them and were proud of their pieces.

– Lukas John Terriak, Master Carver, Nain Artist Studio

Three workshop participants wearing hoodies and hats show their completed uluit.
PHOTO: SALOME JARARUSE. COURTESY ATRIWAI.

This story is part of the Nunatsiavut Spotlight. View more content from the Spotlight here.