#sealfie

[tulugak]

I am very happy to say I got my first seal yesterday! I got it in one shot.

Each family member who went got one, so we took home five seals!

[thearchaeologiststeacup]

A controversial topic for today’s feature post, but after all that’s a big part of what raising awareness is all about. . How many of you have heard of the #sealfie movement? It started back in 2014 in response to protests about seal hunting, which has been a central part of Inuit life for as long as people can remember. Most historic clothing is made either from caribou skin or sealskin (see the 16th century mittens in the second picture, which I had access to thanks to the @museumvolkenkunde ), and modern hunters also often wear sealskin clothing. It’s warm and waterproof, as I can attest after purchasing these gloves during my stay in Igloolik last year (third picture) and using them on my scooter. . For Inuit, seal hunting is not just a traditional part of their cultural heritage, it is also an ethical way to get fresh meat (as to opposed to frozen packages that are shipped out to northern supermarkets from southern Canada), and warm and waterproof clothing. . I’ve already mentioned @alethea_aggiuq in my feature on the @grizzliesmovie , but she needs another mention here (first picture) as one of the biggest advocates for Inuit seal-hunting rights. There are other big names in the Inuit community who are trying to raise awareness of this topic, but for those who want to find out more, check out her twitter (and search for #sealfie) for a place to start. . It’s one of those difficult topics that can cause such different and strong opinions in different cultural contexts. Even if you may not agree with something personally, it is important to understand why someone from a different background might have a contrasting opinion. . #igloolik #Inuit #culturalheritage #culture #Tradition #sealhunting #seal #inuk #awareness #raisingawareness #culturaltraditions https://www.instagram.com/p/CDvl7C0H6Tv/?igshid=1fep2td1jb53m

[jesiluv]

Recently we watched Angry Inuit in my NAS class, we learned a lot:

To many of us, seal hunting is seen as something cruel and unnecessary. We see images of crying seals and protests against this ‘atrocity.’ However, seal hunting is not what it is made out to be. Something many of us don’t see is how most seal hunting is done in Inuit cultures. In Inuit culture, seal hunting is done sustainably and the healthiest option for the Inuit. It is not just part of their culture, by selling the furs the Inuit have become a part of the economy.

Unlike many other animals that activist groups advocate for, seal populations are not in danger. Inuit hunting is sustainable. They have been hunting for generations which gives them plenty of knowledge on how to do it so that populations remain balanced and don’t work out of greed. The seals are their main source of food and money, yet the Inuit remain aware of current seal populations and the ecosystem. 

For Inuit, seal hunting is a healthier and cheaper option than other food sources available to them. Items in their stores such as a case of Coke can cost around $80. Not to mention items like these are not merely as nutritious as a seal. A whole seal can be shared amongst the community and last Inuit a much longer time due to its abundance. Inuit use every part of the seal from head to tail. They even use the fur for clothing, not for fashion, but as a necessity to keep warm.

A major part of the Inuit culture is seal hunting, which is a community effort where the hunters of the community work together to bring seals back to their homes. The seals are cleaned and divided up amongst family members and friends, where seal skins are preserved and made into traditional Inuit clothing and meat is made into various Inuit dishes. Additionally, it plays a vital role in continuing this tradition and culture in each generation with the new generation learning how to respectfully hunt and prepare seals. 

Due to a lack of understanding, the EU still believes that the Inuit people are unaffected by the modern-day economy. They are under the notion that the Inuit still live in igloos and are completely unaffected by the rest of the world. However, the Inuit people highly depend on the market price of the seal skin industry in order to make a living. The market price fluctuates based on political decisions, such as the decision of the EU to ban products made from white coat harp seals in 1983 and ban all seal products in 2009. In the ban implemented in 2009, there was an exception for the Inuit people to be allowed to hunt, and the EU thought this would be enough because they didn’t associate the Inuit with the economy. Therefore, the price of a seal skin fell from $100 to $10 as a result of the ban.

For more information visit:

https://psmag.com/environment/sealfie-vs-selfie-one-year-later-ellen-degeneres-and-the-clubbing-of-seals

 https://sealsandsealing.net/the-harvest/methods/

[slushyseals]

[lexicon-decepticon]

#sealfie

A hashtag portmanteau of “seal” and “selfie,” I saw this tag on a tweet concerning a recent campaign from PETA to denounce seal hunting. The writer of the tweet was an Inuit girl that argued that ethical seal hunting is an integral part of Inuit culture, and we must consider all cultural perspectives when approaching environmental issues.

[flukesandflorida]

This is one of my favorite photos of PR5 “Mangrove” in Gasparilla Sound

[sharkboy-beard]

Nights 🦈#me #beard #shark #sharkattack #sharkevolution #Bruceshark #watertype #thelegendofkorra #sailormercury #sea #selfie #sealfie #instapic #kisame #aquabear #Bear #gaygeek #Bear #beard

[glanduin]

Yooo i would make a great mercy