There aren't a lot of shopping opportunities in Inuvik, as we have no malls and very few stores, so it's easy to avoid the temptation to spend money. However, our downfall is that there are so many amazing handicrafts to buy- mukluks, carvings, muskox wool scarves, fur mitts (rabbit, seal, wolf, beaver), you name it. And because these items are unique, hand-crafted, and use very expensive materials, you have to be prepared to dish out $hundreds or $thousands for a one-of-a-kind item. Sticker shock is just part of the experience!
Case in point -- my new moccasins (generally just called "slippers" by the Inuit). After a year of looking for the perfect pair, I was thrilled to see these beauties below in our craft shop for the bargain price of $250 including tax. The reason they are not in the $300+ range is because the bottoms are cowhide rather than moosehide. But as I will only use them indoors at the office most of the time, I didn't mind that they weren't made of moosehide.
The slippers are made of sealskin, trimmed with Arctic hare, with embroidered uppers. They were made by Martha Kudlak of Sachs Harbour, a community of about 100 people in an area even more remote than Inuvik!
Case in point -- my new moccasins (generally just called "slippers" by the Inuit). After a year of looking for the perfect pair, I was thrilled to see these beauties below in our craft shop for the bargain price of $250 including tax. The reason they are not in the $300+ range is because the bottoms are cowhide rather than moosehide. But as I will only use them indoors at the office most of the time, I didn't mind that they weren't made of moosehide.
The slippers are made of sealskin, trimmed with Arctic hare, with embroidered uppers. They were made by Martha Kudlak of Sachs Harbour, a community of about 100 people in an area even more remote than Inuvik!
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