For Inuit, very few actions are accomplished solely for the self; for when a hunter catches an animal its meat is often distributed past his own family and shared with those who have less, and prior to the widespread availability of Western fabrics, the skin from catches would be used to clothe entire families. Pijitsirniq contrasts greatly with Western ideas of individualism, whereby one is expected to do everything on their own for their own self gain and failures are theirs to struggle through and solve alone. On the contrary from the Inuit perspective, members of the community have shared responsibilities to do what they can to ensure the community thrives. In the past these responsibilities included providing food and sharing labor and extended to individual behaviour; ensuring everyone treated others in the community kindly and with respect and abstaining from actions that would cause harm to others. Through practices such as Pijitsirniq, the well-being of the community is ensured through the contributions of everyone, from hunters providing food, down to the children fetching ice.

If you take a look at these photographs, you can see the ways members of Idlout’s camp provided for and served their community. Photographs such as N-1979-051: 1993 of Paul Oodleteetuk holding up dead polar bear, or the iconic photo N-1979-051: 1873 of Herodier Kadluk preparing to harpoon a seal, depict men hunting for animals that would provide food for the camp, oil for lamps, and skins for clothing. Other photographs such as N-1979-051: 2066 of Kidlak and another woman from the camp showcasing skins they prepared that would be used to clothe the camp. Ways of serving and providing for the community comes in different ways, and surely changed through time and with the introduction of different goods as can be seen in photo N-1979-051: 2082 of Kidlak holding fox furs ready to be traded with the Hudson’s Bay Company. In the seventies for Inuit youth, serving the community came in the form of defending Inuit land claims using their knowledge of both English and Inuktitut. While it may appear more difficult having to share concern over the entire community, it simply means the burdens and struggles are solved through the help of the community. If one person is lacking in a skill set, there is always someone else available who can fill that role. And as burdens are shared, so is success.

Today in Inuit communities the practice of Pijitsirniq is still strong in Inuit hunting practices where meat is shared with community members, as well as in day-to-day tasks such as bringing ice or fresh water to elders and running community gatherings for the community. But Pijitsirniq is also present in the long-term goals of many Inuit as the responsibility to serve our home communities is the driving force behind the actions of Inuit politicians striving to make positive changes, as well as Inuit furthering their educations or receiving training to go back to serve their communities in any way they can.