Tipatshimuna 
Description:
ice chisel made of wood and metal
References:
Lucien M. Turner. 1979[1894]. Indians and Eskimos in the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula. Quebec: Presses COMEDITEX. James W. VanStone. 1985. Material Culture of the Davis Inlet and Barren Ground Naskapi: the William Duncan Strong Collection. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History. Fieldiana, Anthropology New Series No.7.
Innu Narrative:
“This kind of job was very hard to get the net through the ice when it was thick. We used a chisel to make holes in the ice. Once you have shoved the rope through the ice at the end of the hole, it is easier.” Shimun Michel and Manian (Ashini) Michel
“I was born at Waskanikanish [Uashkanikanish – Fort Chimo]. Mantepe was my grandfather. He married a woman from Mingan. It was a very hard life in the country. Especially when it was hard to get any game – when it was scarce. People would go fishing. They would cut through the thick ice with a long chisel. It is amazing how they could do it.” Tshishennish Pasteen
“Back in the old days the Innu people’s way of life was so hard compared to today’s way of life. They made their ice chisels with caribou antler, from where the antler connects to the head of a caribou. That part of an antler is so hard, it’s perfect for the ice. Most of the tools Innu made came from the bone of an animal such as caribou antler, as well as from wood from a tree. For example, a woman’s tool, the needle, was made from caribou antler. A man’s axe was also made from antler. Every tool that the Innu had came from the hands of Innu. Other things that were made from a tree were cups and bowls. Innu clothing was made from caribou hide. The caribou hide is really warm, and Innu didn’t need to wear other clothing underneath the hide in the winter. Man’s clothing was made in three or four pieces and women’s clothing was made in one piece. The man had two sets of clothing, one to wear when he was outside and the other to wear when he was inside the tent. Another useful thing for Innu was the tent made out of a caribou hide. But ever since the white man has been around, everything has changed, including the way Innu hunted, the way they made their tools, and what they made their tools out of. Now Innu tools are made of metal. Yes, they last long and are better. That’s why the way of life back then was so hard compared to today. For example, hunting back then was harder that it is today because now you use a gun to shoot a caribou, but back then, you had to use a knife to kill the caribou.” Nuk Nui (Sheshatshiu, formerly Barren Ground Innu Band, born near Fort Chimo). Note – Nuk Nui was not interviewed as part of the Web Demo Project.
Other Info:
“The ice picks…used in times gone by were pieces of reindeer horn or bone, shaped like a narrow mortising chisel and attached to staffs of wood. The chisel or pick was fastened to the staff by means of stout thongs to prevent a side movement from the groove into which it was set. The upper end of the staff was at times shod with bone or horn so as to be available for a walking staff. The ice-pick of the present day has a piece of iron or steel substituted for the horn or bone; but, being heavy, it is not so often carried from place to place. An Indian will in an incredibly short time pierce a hole through 3 feet thickness of ice with it. A white man cannot equal them in this work.” Turner (1979[1894]:155)
“Two ice chisels are described by Strong…as being an ‘old type’. Both specimens have wooden shafts of approximately the same length. At the distal end is a chisel-shaped antler blade with saw and file markings and a square tang snuggly fitted against a cutaway section of the shaft and nailed in place. The haft is strengthened with caribou skin lashing on one specimen and twine lashing on the other.” VanStone (1985:15)