I can't speak too much on this main whaling piece, for I am not an Eskimo, nor do I whale. I did this design because of the great respect that I have for all of my Eskimo friends. From the times I hung with them on the streets to hunting wolves, bears, seals, caribou, etc. throughout the Eskimo regions. We have always gotten along well, and they have always treated me with the same amount, if not greater respect. I have been invited to go in the past, and one day I will most likely go whaling with my northern most Native friends.
I did the cross on the hood, intermingled with the harpoon tips to signify the embrace of Christianity and the old way of religion that is so strong in our Native culture today. Also, I wanted to symbolize how hunting is one of the key aspects to our Native American religion. In all tribes, to my knowledge and experience, the animal will give itself to you if you are a good and deserving person. It is believed that there are many ways that a person can ruin this luck. For example, a person brags too much, doesn't help others, acts out selfishly, speaks in a manner that they are out to get or kill an animal, brags about the size of an animal they harvested, does not care for the meat properly, etc.. In this aspect of Native religion, one must have a positive influence and effect on, and towards people, and Mother Nature. This type of religion, one does not imply or speak about how religious they are, they simply walk the walk, and in the end the mother earth and the creator will gift one with great luck when bringing home food and hides to their family and community.