Museum catalogue: Arctic Material Culture Collection

a: Umiak (a), with flat bottom, is made of a wooden framework consisting of stem and stern posts caped with trapezoidal stem heads, 5 cross trees securing a bilge streak at each side and a keelson in the centre, 5 ribs securing 2 long boards along each side and 5 seats, and 2 circular gunwales on the top of the ribs which project beyond stem and stern. Pieces are lashed together with sinew and wooden rivets. Umiak cover is made of cream dehaired seal skin attached to stem heads and gunwales at each end with four (originally 5) ivory pegs. Skin is turned over the gunwales to the interior and secured with string around uppermost side board (see Birket-Smith 1924: Figure 180 for technique). Original tears in cover repaired with sinew stitching.

b - f: Oars (b-f) are each made from a single piece of wood. Blades are long and flat with central ridge and straight bevelled ends. Handles are circular in cross-section flaring slightly then constricting at proximal end.

• a: Width: 195mm, height: 125mm, length: 716mm
• b - f: Width: 25mm, length: 343mm