Arctic Culture

The Arctic Thule cultures were organised as band societies, which consisted of a network of family units. Men established partnerships with other men so they could work together sharing and protecting each other's families. This partnership recognised a communal lifeway on the local band level. Within the union of families, men and women shared, hunted, traded, danced and exchanged spouses. The wife exchange was temporary and considered a co-marriage. Children from the temporary union were recognised as the siblings of the first spouse's children. During a season of poor hunting the partnership may break up and the families separate for a better chance of survival. A leader who is best suited is chosen, but once this leader no longer displays the necessary traits for leadership the family no longer follows him. In some cases the family may break up. The annual or semi-annual gatherings were an opportunity to collectively gather resources and to create partnerships or solidify alliances. The summer gatherings were a time for ritual dances, gift exchanges, games, storytelling, and renewing family ties. Often during these gatherings children were promised in marriage.

The Thule peoples had firm possession of the Arctic region and were unchallenged until European contact. The First Nations of the southern areas rarely infringed upon Thule lands. Groups within the Thule culture claimed territorial rights to preferred fishing or hunting sites. These territorial rights were closely defended because the food sources collected there would support only small numbers of individuals.

The caribou hunt occurred in the late summer and fall. The meat, bones, and antlers provided food, tools, fuel, and clothing. Surplus food was traded but this was not a common practice. Materials prospected and traded were jade, carving ivory, and bone. Jade artefacts are located throughout the territories associated with the Dorset culture. Flint, chert, slate, and obsidian were traded as raw materials. Microblades, or small cutting tools, were cut from crystalline quartz, which was also the ideal material for crafting scraper blades or harpoon tips. Soapstone was traded and utilised in the manufacture of cooking pots, seal oil lamps, beads, and tobacco pipes. Pure copper and iron were beaten flat and traded throughout Arctic Canada. A band was very fortunate to locate a jade deposit in its territory, because the jade's value would increase as it moved farther from its point of origin.