Discussion of Hunting Techniques, Weapon Functionality, and Marine Navigation Practices

Creators and Contributors Berlin Ethnological Museum (Contributor)
Chugach Alaska Corporation (Contributor)
Chugach Heritage Foundation (Contributor)
Chugachmiut (Contributor)
John F.C. Johnson (Contributor)
William Smith (Contributor)

Summary Bill Smith explains the symbolic and functional features of a wooden dagger, noting its ability to kill from both sides. He discusses the design of arrows used in marine mammal hunting, emphasizing the added weight at the front of the arrow tip to increase impact force. He comments that the arrow itself is simply a vehicle for delivering the tip and speculates about the missing line used to attach a gut buoy to prevent a killed animal from sinking. John Johnson adds that some spears used for smaller animals had blunt tips. The group discusses whale hunting, and Johnson describes a method involving poisoning whales through spear tips and waiting for them to wash ashore. Johnson also speaks about strong currents around Montague Island and how qayaqers would travel in triangular patterns to avoid paddling against the current. He shares that qayaqs were sometimes lashed together to rest during extended hunting trips and that navigation relied on observing stars and bird movements, as hunters could travel far enough that land was no longer visible.