Ethno-archaeological Study of Traditional Inuit Subsistence

A three-year research project at Pelly Bay was instituted to study, 1) ethnoarchaeology of proto-historic and early historic sites and subsistence activities, 2) contemporary subsistence activities, 3) contemporary socio-cultural change and continuity. A brief review of the results of these researches are as follows : 1)Ethno-archaeology : The ethnoarchaeological methodology of our research employed both participant-observation and on-site interviews of knowledgeable informants.On-site interviews were conducted at the site of the feature in question. For example, when collecting data concerning tents, one or more informants who had either used traditional tents, or had intimate knowledge of traditional tents, accompanied us to the site of a tent ring of a traditional tent. There, detailed accounts of how and where tents were constructed, activity patterns within and around the tent, as well a social aspects of tent life were recorded. At the same time, data concerning traditional subsistence activities were collected in a similar manner. 2)Research concerning contemporary subsistence activities was done by the participant-observation technique. Results of this research were compared with those of traditional activities in order to establish patterns of change and continuity. 3)Contemporary socio-cultural change and continuity : in order to find which socio-cultural institutions and practises have undergone change, and which are continued into the present, a household census was carried out. The results were used to study kinship and social relations in concern with subsistence activities, food sharing practises and settlement politics. Also, research concerning ethno-cognitive patterns of landscape, direction, color, as well as language change was carried out. These studies indicate that social change is occurring among the Pelly Bay Inuit. However, we believe that basic socioeconomic practices and institutions, although undergoing change, still are in force and form the basis for many contemporary social, economic and political activities.