Eskimo Women and Hunting
Although big game hunting is generally a predominantly male activity among the Eskimo, women do participate in much of the food gathering activities, and hunt a variety of wildlife. Although not popularly as romantic as big game hunting, smaller scale hunting represents a significant contribution to the Eskimo diet, and is increasingly important during the winter months.
Fishing is considered an activity that anyone can do, but usually only when one has no other responsibilities. In North-West Alaska, cod is the main source of food from fishing. Fishing represents one of the smallest fractions of all food gathering of activities, and takes places primarily during the winter months from January to March (Nelson, 147). Fishing is mostly performed from the beaches, not from boats. This is either indicative of the relative ease of fishing from the shore, or of the fact that most fish congregate in the shallower water near the shores. To women, fishing is a significantly important activity; when a girl catches her first fish she is afforded a ceremony similar to that when a boy kills his first seal (Giffen, 9). Indicative of the similarity is that statement that “many kayakers never become seal hunters, but only take to fishing…..”(Rink, 173).
Hunting of birds, reindeer, fawns, foxes, marmots, and squirrels is very often done by women. Setting of traps is considered a relatively safe activity, and women may do so as they see fit. Men sometimes accompany women during expeditions hunting these animals, and even occasionally hunt them on their own.
Caribou hunting is an activity reserved for men, but very often only in the shooting. In most regions the tactic used is for women and their children to scare hoards of caribou into fleeing to close proximity to the armed men. This tactic is used almost universally, with the exception of the polar regions where men traditionally stalk the caribou. Even in the polar regions, however, women often accompany the men on the hunting expeditions.