emviivalla

Emviivalla refers to a traditional form of Inuit communal hunting and whale-hunting practice in the Arctic regions. This unique method of whaling has been a vital part of the subsistence lifestyle and cultural heritage of Inuit communities for centuries.

Emviivalla, also known as "knitting" whale, involves the restraint of a whale using a network of boats and harpoons. Inuit hunters form a semicircle around the whale, gradually closing in on it, while preventing it from swimming away or breaching. A harpooned line attached to the whale's body connects it to seaward-facing harpoons, anchoring it between the boats.

During the emviivalla hunt, a series of harpoons are carefully placed in strategic positions along the whale's body, making sure not to mortally wound it. This elaborate process is aimed at fatiguing the whale, which eventually succumbs to exhaustion. Once the whale is encircled and exhausted, a lever kept attached through the boat moves down and sticks through one of the holes sourced by harpoons. The fear of suffering is considered minimal, as this traditional strategy makes animals die of exhaustion.

Inuit communities have traditionally made use of the emviivalla method to practice whale-hunting, typically polar bears and bowheads. In whaling activities, community members abide by traditional rules of sharing meat and adhering to a customary division of workload. This holistic access to the whale's meat is integral to the resource management practices of the Inuit society.