Eskimos jumping on whale leather.

horse_you_rode_in_on · 2012-10-03T14:52:13+00:00

They're celebrating the end of the whaling season; this photo was taken by LIFE magazine staff photographer Ralph Crane on 1 Jan 1965.

thirdfounder · 2012-10-03T14:49:02+00:00

sadly, the Eskimo space program never got much farther than this.

andrew_canada · 2012-10-03T15:43:46+00:00

Eskimo is actually considered a derogatory term. It means "eater of raw meat". Anyways, they prefer to be called Inuit.

kathywalsh20 · 2012-10-03T17:50:23+00:00

I am Inuit. I am from Labrador, you forgot to mention that In your list jamiesg. Also, Eskimo is derogatory, unless some group, like mentioned, says otherwise.

Rex Beckett- not all native groups do this, and people don't mind seeing us do this because they know we use 100% of the animal, and the leather used here is for celebration, not all for fun. We understand the animals are sacred and do not waste things from them, this leather was probably used by these people for something else when done, mainly shelter.

Hope I've cleared everything up here.

MAHHH · 2012-10-03T18:04:53+00:00

I am also an Alaskan. It's more appropriate to call them natives as opposed to Eskimos; it's just uncouth. I guess it'd be different if you didn't grow up with them.

cheshirepig · 2012-10-03T19:44:05+00:00

I think we all remember and cherish when Wolverine participated in this ritual, shortly before Sabretooth ruined everything.

Afa1234 · 2012-10-03T19:35:11+00:00

Hey to all the other Alaskans that stopped by!

70000 · 2012-10-03T15:00:13+00:00

Pretty awesome must be tons of outdated fun technology we don't know about

hypnoderp · 2012-10-03T18:43:35+00:00

To clarify - they're not jumping on it, they're being launched as everyone pulls together. The crowd then retensions the blanket to catch the participant.

Source: I've done this.

DGTHNMCSPSJPJBJPJRP · 2012-10-03T14:47:24+00:00

They're having a whale of a time!

sir_rideout · 2012-10-03T19:59:26+00:00

It may actually be seal skin and not whale. I've worked with people from the North Slope in Alaska, traveled up there on several occasions, and learned a bit about the bowhead whale hunt in the process. After the hunt, the seal skin which was used for the whaling boats is removed from the boat and used in the fashion depicted in the picture.

kabomlamma · 2012-10-03T23:16:10+00:00

this is how Eskimos commit suicide due to the lack of high buildings

CHACHI_BONGS · 2012-10-04T01:53:41+00:00

Snow Mexicans

DrFeargood · 2012-10-04T03:04:21+00:00

Fun Fact:

Some Alaskan Natives feel the term "Eskimo" is offensive. There are many tribes and communities and not all of them are Eskimo or want to be called Eskimo.

Source: Dating an Alaskan Native.

carre_rouge · 2012-10-03T17:34:38+00:00

-> inuits

sardaukarqc · 2012-10-03T18:07:19+00:00

This sure is healthier than huffing gas.

DivinePotatoe · 2012-10-03T16:25:37+00:00

I'm not an expert on this but, isn't 'Eskimo' a racist term? I thought it was 'Inuit' or 'Innu'. I seem recall that Eskimo meant 'blubber eater' or something to that effect and was basically like calling them savages.

johnsmcjohn · 2012-10-03T17:46:02+00:00

I first saw this here and I never realized it actually happened(like it was a real tradition) until today. TIL I guess.

tripstuff · 2012-10-03T18:37:41+00:00

Steve-O does this in an episode of Wildboyz!

BaconCat · 2012-10-03T18:47:49+00:00

Musical Accompaniment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpmX4qG1kQg

Indestructavincible · 2012-10-03T19:15:28+00:00

In the book Alaska by Kevin Mitchener, this was on of the most important aspects to the story.

Considering the book is about the story of Alaska, starting from the perspective of a mastadon family, the arrival of natives from Asia on the landbridge, the Russians setting up shop and backing out, the gold rush,all the way up until the 1980s. There is very little left out.

The girl who was the most adept at jumping and being graceful was the most sought after girl in the group.

Great book.

Chentzilla · 2012-10-03T19:39:06+00:00

How do you know those are not Chukchi?

OlfactoriusRex · 2012-10-03T19:57:51+00:00

I've lived in Alaska for a few years, and I do believe they're not jumping on "whale leather." Those blanket tosses were done with the walrus skins that were used for skinboats/umiaks, sometimes called kayaks. As far as I know, the Inupait hunters eat the whale skin (and blubber and meat and damn near everything else), but they don't make those blankets with them.

penguinplatypus · 2012-10-03T20:03:27+00:00

Thought title said, "Eskimos jumping on a whale teacher."

frgrc334 · 2012-10-03T20:03:33+00:00

The skin is eaten my good sir, but you've already found out by now.. It's rather tasty.. if I do say so myself... (Family and self from Barrow, AK)

seangalt · 2012-10-03T20:05:43+00:00

*inuit hence the term Inuit blanket.

cho4d · 2012-10-03T20:07:57+00:00

Cool shoes.

Neversoft4long · 2012-10-03T20:17:42+00:00

Guess you can say they had a whale of good time

Gabe1282 · 2012-10-03T20:21:30+00:00

You guys are clueless, they're learning how to fly, gosh

hedgecore77 · 2012-10-03T20:24:01+00:00

"BEAR!!!"

scurry scurry scurry

THUMP

songkran · 2012-10-03T20:25:02+00:00

Jackie Treehorn has quite a pad. Completely unspoiled.

EnderofDragon · 2012-10-03T20:43:28+00:00

this was how the Man Show originally ended each episode, but they decided to rework the formula slightly.

Reboh79 · 2012-10-03T20:46:50+00:00

TELL PETA MY MINK IS DRAGGIN ON THE FLOOR

xPurpleDragon · 2012-10-03T20:48:54+00:00

Neat! I have a couple pictures of my Dad doing that in Inuvik, NWT. Every year on June 21st (my rl cake day) when the sun revolves in the center of the sky for 24 hours. Big party.

bobaimee · 2012-10-03T21:45:36+00:00

FYI, Eskimo is actually a derogatory term for Inuit.

(I'm from the Arctic)

PullOutBoy · 2012-10-03T21:48:05+00:00

Something something something pocket whales!

AlyGrana212 · 2012-10-03T22:01:24+00:00

I live in Barrow, AK, and it's called the blanket toss. It's a huge Inupiat celebration after whaling season ends, and all of the whaling captains jump on the blanket, but if you're not careful you'll hurt yourself. I've had to help tossing the blanket up before, and without anyone on it can be very heavy.

caitlinnormal · 2012-10-03T22:10:00+00:00

Inuits jumping on whale leather

Early-Cuyler · 2012-10-03T22:10:29+00:00

Better not let these guys see this

brningpyre · 2012-10-03T22:49:11+00:00

Take that, PETA!

e_y_c_e · 2012-10-03T23:29:26+00:00

Inupiat whaler here. That isn't whale leather. It is actually bearded seal skin. They smell horrible and are generally made from the skin boat that was used the catch the whale for the celebration. This celebration is called nalukataq (spelling may be a bit off). I went all crazy when I saw comments about my hometown Barrow. I like the respect from a lot of the redditors to correct others on the use of Eskimo.

snakeinthegrasslol · 2012-10-03T23:50:58+00:00

***Eskimo's is a seriously racist term in the eyes of Canadian Aboriginals

combzy89 · 2012-10-04T00:22:59+00:00

This was originally used so they could locate animals to hunt source

effingeenyus · 2012-10-04T00:28:47+00:00

*Inuit

9TheSeeker7 · 2012-10-04T02:04:02+00:00

Canadian here. The term "Eskimo" can be considered racist because it literally means "people that eat raw meat" or something along those lines. The best term to use for this linguistic family is Inuit. We are taught to use this term in the school system.

ZeroThroughNine · 2012-10-04T02:26:36+00:00

http://youtu.be/CwO33oUawM8

IATEBACON · 2012-10-04T02:30:13+00:00

Looks like something hipsters would do. Also they would dress like that.

espressoempress · 2012-10-04T02:30:14+00:00

Inuit*

Fenixx117 · 2012-10-04T04:04:39+00:00

It's Inuit you fool.

Fenixx117 · 2012-10-04T04:10:20+00:00

This is an "Eskimo"

milkisyummy · 2012-10-04T05:50:28+00:00

Reddit, you are ruining me. At first glance I thought this was another Nick Cage post.

WTF are you doing to my brain?

SlaughterMeister · 2012-10-04T07:23:07+00:00

Inuit.

rubncto · 2012-10-04T08:20:29+00:00

DAE notice that the Eskimo jumping on the right has a Sarah Jessica Parker face?

anikan72 · 2012-10-03T19:56:34+00:00

Inuit*

makinganotheraccount · 2012-10-03T17:43:34+00:00

I'm sure the whales are happy that they gave their lives for a good cause.

Neutral_Milk_Brotel · 2012-10-03T19:16:34+00:00

Please use the term Inuit, Eskimo is a derogatory term

ecnedivorp · 2012-10-03T20:24:36+00:00

I believe Eskimos is a derogatory term. Other than that cool pic.

artacuno53 · 2012-10-03T14:51:48+00:00

In before anti whaling hippies.

RexBeckett · 2012-10-03T15:25:51+00:00

I'm confused.

This Eskimo activity is seen as innocent fun . . . yet when I wore my whale leather jacket to the mall, a Greenpeace guy screamed and fainted. A PETA woman shed a slow, silent tear.

I'll admit that I learned something from their reactions, so I didn't enjoy my McBlubber lunch as much as I usually do.

idrink211 · 2012-10-03T14:38:08+00:00

Wow, who knew being an Eskimo could be so fun?

JXDB · 2012-10-03T14:56:02+00:00

I must go, my people need me

andrewsmith1986 · 2012-10-03T15:09:17+00:00

New life goal, do something like this.

maketho · 2012-10-03T17:32:56+00:00

All those innocent little pocket whales...

daiya · 2012-10-03T18:14:30+00:00

Inuit.

InfamousBacon · 2012-10-03T14:56:29+00:00

They're probably all drunk.

glasnostic · 2012-10-03T18:09:44+00:00

The eskimos are not the issue here, Dude. I'm talking about drawing a line in the snow, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, Dude, eskimo is not the preferred nomenclature. Inuit, please.

daviddesousa · 2012-10-03T17:19:17+00:00

even with all the training they put on, their gymnastic team was not able to get any medals

daze32 · 2012-10-03T21:41:16+00:00

I am a Eskimo. Prefer to be called Inuvialuit. just for the reason that I am not a raw meat eater. everyone has their own preference. thanks OP for this post :-)

henrythecoolcat · 2012-10-03T22:07:58+00:00

Unfortunately... Dont call them eskimos, it's not a good, correct term to use.

Ryukishi · 2012-10-03T23:59:50+00:00

Those aren't Eskimos, these are Eskimos. They are marshmallow lollies in NZ

SilverbackBob · 2012-10-04T00:00:51+00:00

MAYBE Eskimo, but much more likely to be Inupiaq. I lived in Barrow for a few years, and miss the people quite a bit.

Edit: Technically, Eskimo culture doesn't exist, and Inuit or Yupik would be a more appropriate label to the modern version of their culture.

sohautrightnow · 2012-10-04T00:32:36+00:00

I'm just so thankful that the comments have to much good information here.

leegaul · 2012-10-04T01:23:01+00:00

Inuit. The term us Inuit. You may as well be calling the snow niggers.

theycallmetedus · 2012-10-04T01:39:29+00:00

The politically correct term for "Eskimos" is actually Inupiat. They are often offended by the term Eskimo. Source: I lived in barrow, Alaska for a year

scrizzlybear · 2012-10-04T01:58:47+00:00

Inuit, not eskimos.

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