Migration

While a leisurely stroll (or more likely a drive) to the corner store will get southern Canadians all the food they need, the Inuit had to hunt and fish for their food. The need for mobility thus produced the kayak, the umiak, and the dogsled. Innovations such as the snowmobile and the airplane, however, are now pushing the old methods of travel aside. Anthropologists have found ten types and 30 to 50 sub-types of kayak, a craft designed to pursue small game. Noted for its speed, lightness and silence, the kayak had one disadvantage: chronic instability. Experience quickly taught every paddler to right his vessel in heavy seas. The umiak, on the other hand, was a much larger boat, stable enough for whaling and family transportation. The Inuit travel stamps feature different methods of travel in the north as depicted by Inuit artists. A traditional method of travel is shown a soapstone sculpture of a sailing umiak entitled "Migration", by Joe Talirunili. The stamp was designed by Reinhard Derreth of Vancouver.