Page 16 - Travel Guide Fly Alaska Winter Edition
P. 16
Blanket toss
n alukataq
The Native American blanket toss is a traditional
Inuit activity in which people hold onto the edges
of a large walrus or seal skin blanket and launch
a person into the air while a drummer keeps the
beat. The more enthusiasm the participants have,
the higher the toss. This is an activity unique
to northern communities in Alaska and part of
the whaling festivities, as tossing a scout 40
feet in the air was a good way to spot activity in
the ocean. It is also a competitive event in the
World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. At Fur Rondy,
it is a popular cultural celebration that brings a
community together and creates a fun, supportive
environment for the kids being tossed.
14 ® WINTER EDITION
