The Inuit worldview sees humans as a part of the natural world, no more superior and no less than our animal counterparts. In contrast to Western thought, Inuit believe that humans do not have the right to take as much as they want or do what they please with the natural world. Instead, Inuit believe that we share the responsibility of caring for and respecting our environment and the rights of all other living things that share the planet with us. It is thought that if you follow Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq and take care of the land, the land will take care of you by providing plentiful game and the resources necessary for survival. On the contrary, if you mistreat animals or are wasteful, you will face the consequences of those actions. Important practices under this principle include leaving the nuna (the land) better than it was found, taking only as much as is needed to provide for one’s family, showing respect to animals even after their death, and using every part of the catch. An example of an Inuit practice done to show respect to the animal after its death is the practice of melting snow into the mouth of a harvested seal; through this act of gratitude, that it is believed that the spirit of the seal will not go thirsty in the afterlife.

If you take a look at these photographs, you can see the ways in which Inuit in Idlout’s camp showed respect and care for the animals and land by utilizing every part of the animal, including the intestines, as shown in photo N-1979-051: 1935 which shows a hunter removing the walrus intestines to be eaten or used, and the skins (N-1979-051: 1997), (N-1979-051: 2066). But perhaps the best depiction of the close relationship between Inuit and the natural world is seen in their relationships with sled-dogs as depicted in photos N-1979-051: 1877, N-1979-051: 2023, and N-1979-051: 2027. The dogs allowed Inuit to travel long distances to hunt and could guide a hunter home even in the worst piqsiq (blizzard). They also ensured hunters’ safety by alerting them to an approaching predator through the dogs’ keen senses and loyalty. The RCMP’s slaughter of Inuit dog teams between the 1950s well into the sixties, marks a point of devastating disruption to the relationship of Inuit and the environment. The killing of sled-dogs confined Inuit to government settlements, severing their ability to freely travel the land and hunt; and in turn affecting the transfer of land-based knowledge and skills to younger generations.

Today, Inuit continue to encourage sustainable hunting and land use practices. The significance of practicing Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq is increasingly stressed in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Because of their close relationship to the land and their knowledge of the environment, Inuit were quick to notice the increasing rate of receding sea ice and changes in weather patterns. Thus, Inuit played a crucial role in alerting the rest of the world to the impacts of climate change that continue to threaten the land and animals integral to Inuit and their way of life. Thus, the principle of Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq has proven to be a valuable practice for Inuit in the past and a valuable tool for tackle climate change in the present.