It has long been a custom of all mankind to fish, trap, hunt, and thus live off what the land and sea have to offer for our subsistence. Even more so, the Northern Eskimo.
Some villages are hundreds of miles from the nearest source of usable vegetation.
It is no wonder that they seek any and all ways in which to use every part of every resource that is available to them. For countless years, and countless generations they have made use of animal skins for warmth, protection from the elements and outer skins for their boats. The meat for sustenance. The bones for tools, shelters, cooking and sewing implements. The viscera for keeping and carrying water, and for floats for their nets, and rain clothing.