Background

The “pisiksi” comes from the farthest north aboriginal people in the world, the Inupiaqs. They live throughout northern Alaska and run into parts of Russia, Canada, and Greenland. Inupiaqs main source of food was meat because most plants could not grow in those climates. They became avid hunters and fisherman, their staple diet consisted of; whales, walruses, seals, fish, caribou, moose, and polar bear. Survival depended on the animals, so they would fallow the caribou herds by foot or by dog sled and live off their meat and hides for shelter and clothing. The Inupiaq culture and values were strongly based on family and well living. The bow showed both their dedication and skill to make a tool they can survive off of in battle and for food.