Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Inuit Women and Children" Signed lower right. Original First Day Cover watercolor painting.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This watercolor was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Canada 14 Inuit Travel stamps issued September 27, 1978.

As the snow deepens and the winter darkness closes in, the Inuit woman's world shrinks more and more. Though everyone spends more time indoors in winter, all the woman's work is indoor work and she is a virtual prisoner of the ice house. In many respects, the lot of the Inuit woman is a contradiction to the wide open spaces of the Canadian tundra. Her husband may escape to his thoughts on a lonely hunting or fishing expedition, but for her there is no escape from the one room house and the demands of her constant companions, the children. As warmer weather approaches, however, the life of the Inuit woman brightens, for the entire village is planning for the journey by umiak to their summer home. Busily, each family prepares for the long trip in its twelve-man sealskin boat. The family fits all its belongings on the large boat, and in the company of other families, also in umiaks, the entire village sets out for the northern hunting grounds. Once arrived, the men use their umiaks to hunt walruses and whales. In many ways, umiaks are preferable to kayaks because of their great stability. The women set up the camp of airy Caribou skin tents, a big change from the closeness of the ice house. During summer, the children may play outdoors, and the women find time to gather wild berries. Indeed, the trip to their summer home and the outdoor joys of summer are a much anticipated break from the rigors of a long winter.

Image Size: 20 x 19.5 in.
Overall Size: 26 x 23 in.
Unframed.
(B05140)

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