Qulittuq / parka

Inuit clothes help transform their wearers, allowing them to acquire the strength, wisdom and spiritual power of the animals the garments are made from. For example, the white fur panels on the chest of this man's parka represent the caribou's dewlap, under which beats its great heart. The light and dark inserts on the upper arms signify the strength of the animal's shoulder muscles, which the hunter must emulate. Even the hood maintains the resemblance, for it still bears the animal's ears.