An umiak is a large open boat constructed with a wooden or whalebone frame and fitted with a sewn cover of walrus or seal hides. Developed by the Thule people, ancestors of the Inuit, the umiak was used for whale-hunting and to transport families and goods from camp to camp. For Ruben, the umiak often serves as a metaphor for Inuit community. In this sculpture, the sudden appearance of Sedna splits apart the umiak, casting its spirit crew overboard, signifying a break with the spiritual traditions of the past.
