Aivilik Inuit woman with Qaernermiut tattoos, Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay, Canadian Arctic

A young Inuit woman identified as a member of the Aivilik group poses in front of a white back-cloth at Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay, February 16, 1904. Image is described as """".this shows the tattooing of the Kenepitic [Qaernermiut] tribe ."""" Lifestyle Titl...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Comer, George (Creator)
Format: Still Image
Language:unknown
Published: Ownership Statement: Mystic Seaport 1904
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11134/70002:5465
Description
Summary:A young Inuit woman identified as a member of the Aivilik group poses in front of a white back-cloth at Cape Fullerton, Hudson Bay, February 16, 1904. Image is described as """".this shows the tattooing of the Kenepitic [Qaernermiut] tribe ."""" Lifestyle Title supplied by cataloger. Information from original envelope identifies this as Photo 180, # 32. The number 32 is etched into emulsion on plate. The Inuit identified as Kenepitic, Kenepetu or Kenepitu were from the Chesterfield Inlet region; the modern designation for the group is Qaernermiut. Taken by Captain George Comer (1858-1937), a sealer and whaling captain from East Haddam. He went to sea while still in his teens and was later master of vessels from both New London and New Bedford, including the Era. Comer participated in voyages involved in polar expeditions and was noted for his studies of Arctic peoples and their environment. This is one of a group of photos taken by Comer to record facial tattooing of various Inuit groups of Hudson Bay. He had Aivilik women paint their faces to simulate the tattooing styles of various other groups.