The people of the arctic owe much to the walrus. Walrus meat nourishes them and feeds their dogs, while walrus oil provides them with food and fuel for their lamps. Walrus tusks give them the ivory that carvers can turn into knives, tools and toys, as well as beautiful sculptures and amulets. Walrus tusks are actually large canine teeth and both the male and female walrus have them. They grow to be two feet long in cows and four feet long in bulls.
Ivory carving as the Inuit practice it is a highly skilled craft.
Traditionally, it was the domain of men only, with fathers passing the skills on to their sons. It took several years and many pieces of ivory for the boy to become a carver. Carved by Pudloo Joseph. Carved by Pudloo Joseph. Carved by Eddy Lyngoc.