While some of the representations of animals are naturalistic they also carved forms which were combinations of humans and bears and humans and seals. These forms may represent animal spirit helpers. This is a similar motif to the 'were-jaguar' of the Olmecs . The art of the Dorset culture is thought to have had a religious significance connected with shamanistic religious practice. The art of the Thule culture is much more functional and decorative than the Dorset culture and is not thought to have the same religious significance.
Archaeologists think that a lot of Thule art was used as toys and for games.
The environment and the type of materials available has a profound effect on the type of art. Much of Inuit art is carving of stone, whalebone, caribou antler, musk ox horn and ivory. There are no canvases to paint upon and natural wood is scarce. The native stones used by the Inuit are usually serpentine, marble, quartz, argilite and dolomite. Soapstone carvings,so favored by modern collectors of Inuit art, are not found in any archaeological sites but are a twentieth century development.