Ulu | ᐅᓗ
An ulu is an all-purpose knife traditionally used by Inuit, Iñupiat, Yupik, and Aleut women to skin, clean and cut animals. Each distinction has unique styles and sizes.
Traditionally the ulu was made with either a caribou antler, muskox horn, or walrus ivory handle and slate cutting surface and have been found dating back to 2500 BCE! Blades of the first uluit were made out of stone, but after making contact with whalers in the 19th century, the material used for blades changed quickly to steel.
Unfortunately, there are non-Inuit who are trying to make profits from selling ulu’s and its design. Inuit across the arctic are trying to use their voices to create awareness that we deserve the right to the protection of our cultural items. Cultural appropriation has propelled issues of intellectual property, identity politics, human rights, diversity and social inclusion. In fact, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically Articles 11(1) and 31: Article 11 1. state that;
“Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs. This includes the right to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies and visual and performing arts and literature.”
On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent which means that by law, Canada must take all measures necessary to ensure it remains consistent with the Declaration. We have the legal obligation to demand that non-Inuit stop their theft of our cultural properties for our self determination.