The Inupiaq homeland is in Northwest Alaska and North Alaska. The Portland Art Museum has some Inupiaq items on display.
The Inupiaq used a large open skin boat known as the umiak. Most of these boats were 15-20 feet long, but there are reports of some as long as 50 feet. The umiak was constructed by lashing seal skins to a wooden frame. In his book The Native People of Alaska, Steve Langdon reports:
“Umiaks were used for hunting whale and walrus, and for travel and trading voyages. Large models could carry up to 15 people and a ton of cargo quite comfortably.”
Indians 101
Indians 101 is a series exploring different American Indian topics. More about American Indian art from this series:
Indians 101: Klikitat Baskets (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Zuni Fetishes (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Some American Indian Art (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Woodlands Indian Art in the Maryhill Museum (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Inuit Art (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Plains Indian Art in the Maryhill Museum (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Plateau Indian Art (Photo Diary)
Indians 101: Modern Indian Art (Photo Diary)