SOC 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Seal Hunting, Igloo, Blubber

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1100
• Professor: Deanna Behnke- Cook

Document Summary

Temperature varies between 30 and 50 degrees below zero. Family sleeps together under a caribou skin on a snow platform. Mother begins day be spreading out flame that has been burning all night. Each morning the men ready themselves for the seal hunt. Dogs are essential for the survival of the eskimo. Seal blubber is pounded into oil with an antler. Tiny flame provides small amount of heat and light in the igloo. Winter is the most social of the seasons because neighbours are likely to visit at any time of day. Wife is softening the dry skin boots while men are out working. Dogs keen sense of smell help the men to find the seal holes. Hunter uses harpoon to find seal breathing hole once dog has located it. Explores shape of the hole so that he can figure out what way to thrust harpoon. Covers top of hole so that the seal doesn"t notice change in pressure.