Inuit Soapstone Carvings: Art and Spirituality

This tiny carved figure survived Arctic winters for over a thousand years and still

holds spiritual power today. Found across the Canadian Arctic, Inuit artists carved

these from soapstone, a soft metamorphic rock perfect for detailed work. Each piece depicted

spirits, animals, or ancestors, with smooth curves that captured movement

and life force. These weren't decorations but sacred objects used in shamanic rituals to communicate

with the spirit world and ensure successful hunts. People think soapstone art is recent,

but Inuit have been master carvers for millennia, passing techniques through generations.