Qamutiq
Encyclopedia
A Qamutiq is a sled
designed to travel on snow and ice, built using traditional inuit
design knowledge. It is adapted to the arctic
sea ice
environment and is in common use today for travel in Arctic regions.
s or pin
s to hold the runners and cross pieces in place. Each piece is drilled and lashed providing a flexibility of movement which can endure the pounding of travel on open sea ice, frozen land, ice floes and across the heavy ice of tidal zones.
Archival materials and the stories of elders show that areas without access to wood for runners used frozen fish
wrapped in skins as runners. Moss
and ice were used on the bottom of the runner to reduce drag
. Today wooden runners are universal, typically with a layer of polyurethane
to reduce drag.
Diaries and accounts from the 1800 and early 1900s tell of how British and American explorers determined to use conventional sleds, found that the pounding of the sea-ice jolted and expelled the nails and that such sled fell to useless pieces within several miles of their start point.
This ingenious deluxe edition of the qamituq provides a fold-out tent
for quick shelter.
in the Arctic, from afternoon outings for families going sledding to multi-day hunting
trips covering hundreds of miles of terrain. Most qamutik have space for fuel cans, a camp stove and grub box, positioned for easy access, and to permit quick stops for tea and food. Other gear and belongings are lashed to the sled body, and passengers can either ride atop this load holding on to the lashing ropes for dear life, or, in the more modern versions, ride in the comfort of a "box" lashed to the sled, sometimes with a small windbreak
or canvas
cover.
The packing and lashing of a sled is an art. Weight must be carried low on the sled, to reduce the risk of tipping. Ingenious structures and materials are used to protect the passengers and hunters build small sleek versions to permit fast day trip
s.
The qamutiq can be hauled by a snowmobile
, dog team or human. Sizes vary by function, and based on availability of materials.
Sled
A sled, sledge, or sleigh is a land vehicle with a smooth underside or possessing a separate body supported by two or more smooth, relatively narrow, longitudinal runners that travels by sliding across a surface. Most sleds are used on surfaces with low friction, such as snow or ice. In some cases,...
designed to travel on snow and ice, built using traditional inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
design knowledge. It is adapted to the arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
sea ice
Sea ice
Sea ice is largely formed from seawater that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs below the freezing point of pure water, at about -1.8 °C ....
environment and is in common use today for travel in Arctic regions.
Design
The key feature of the qamutiq is that it does not use nailNail
Nail may refer to:* Nail , toughened keratin at the end of an animal digit* Nail , a plate of hard horny tissue at the tip of some bird beaks* Nail , the pin-shaped fastener used in engineering, woodworking and construction...
s or pin
Pin
A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together.Pin may also refer to:* Award pin, a small piece of metal or plastic with a pin attached given as an award for some achievement...
s to hold the runners and cross pieces in place. Each piece is drilled and lashed providing a flexibility of movement which can endure the pounding of travel on open sea ice, frozen land, ice floes and across the heavy ice of tidal zones.
Archival materials and the stories of elders show that areas without access to wood for runners used frozen fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
wrapped in skins as runners. Moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
and ice were used on the bottom of the runner to reduce drag
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
. Today wooden runners are universal, typically with a layer of polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
to reduce drag.
Diaries and accounts from the 1800 and early 1900s tell of how British and American explorers determined to use conventional sleds, found that the pounding of the sea-ice jolted and expelled the nails and that such sled fell to useless pieces within several miles of their start point.
This ingenious deluxe edition of the qamituq provides a fold-out tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
for quick shelter.
Function
Qamutiq are used for diverse travelTravel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
in the Arctic, from afternoon outings for families going sledding to multi-day hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
trips covering hundreds of miles of terrain. Most qamutik have space for fuel cans, a camp stove and grub box, positioned for easy access, and to permit quick stops for tea and food. Other gear and belongings are lashed to the sled body, and passengers can either ride atop this load holding on to the lashing ropes for dear life, or, in the more modern versions, ride in the comfort of a "box" lashed to the sled, sometimes with a small windbreak
Windbreak
A windbreak or shelterbelt is a plantation usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted around the edges of fields on farms. If designed properly, windbreaks around a...
or canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
cover.
The packing and lashing of a sled is an art. Weight must be carried low on the sled, to reduce the risk of tipping. Ingenious structures and materials are used to protect the passengers and hunters build small sleek versions to permit fast day trip
Day Trip
Day Trip is the studio album of jazz guitarist Pat Metheny along with Christian McBride and Antonio Sanchez.It was released by Nonesuch Records on January 29, 2008.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Pat Metheny - Guitar* Christian McBride - Bass...
s.
The qamutiq can be hauled by a snowmobile
Snowmobile
A snowmobile, also known in some places as a snowmachine, or sled,is a land vehicle for winter travel on snow. Designed to be operated on snow and ice, they require no road or trail. Design variations enable some machines to operate in deep snow or forests; most are used on open terrain, including...
, dog team or human. Sizes vary by function, and based on availability of materials.
External links
- Watch Stories From Our Land - Family Making Sleds, a 2011 Nunavut short film on sled construction.