SELECTED THESES ON THE CIRCUMPOLAR ARCTIC

Crafts provide an important source of income for people of various cultures worldwide. The Minnguq Sewing Group in Broughton Island, Northwest Territories manufactures and markets seal skin crafts which are based on traditional Inuit designs and local natural resources. The focus of this study was to identify how the Inuit members of the Minnguq Sewing Group and the non-Inuit consumers of their products affected the design, production, and the marketing of Minnguq crafts. This research evolved from a community-based development perspective. I used research methods of informal interviews, observation, and participant observation to conduct fieldwork in June 1992. Interpretive analysis of the data revealed several cross-cultural influences on the crafts. The influences were cultural, social, economic, political, environmental, and physical. The multiple roles of the seamstresses which included their family, employment, and community responsibilities affected their participation in the enterprise. Traditional Inuit designs and consumer preferences affected the design of the crafts. The geographical location of Broughton Island and consumer markets imposed particular marketing and purchasing methods. Knowledge of the context in which the Minnguq Sewing Group produces and sells its crafts creates an understanding of the factors that facilitate and inhibit craft development. This information may be used by other small businesses in northern Canada, or by similar economic ventures in developing countries."