AMARURJUK, the wolf
Geolocation
Citation
Céline Petit, “AMARURJUK, the wolf,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/262.
- Overall presentation
-
Name : AMARURJUK, the wolf
-
Creator : Céline Petit
-
Contributor(s) : Herve PANIAQ, Iglulik, Nunavut, Canada (videos 1 & 2)
-
Date : 2015
- Information on the string figure
This string figure represents a wolf (amaruq) or a big wolf (amarurjuaq) whose tail is in a horizontal position, which is said to be a characteristic feature of a running wolf.
The tail is the string part that shall be pulled to untie the figure without creating any knot (pamiungurullugu qilanginiarani).
This figure is one of the most commonly known among Inuit peoples (Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland). In most areas, it is identified as depicting a wolf; but in some areas (Siberia, Greenland), it is said to represent a dog (qimmiq) or a fox (tiriganniaq).
The tail is the string part that shall be pulled to untie the figure without creating any knot (pamiungurullugu qilanginiarani).
This figure is one of the most commonly known among Inuit peoples (Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland). In most areas, it is identified as depicting a wolf; but in some areas (Siberia, Greenland), it is said to represent a dog (qimmiq) or a fox (tiriganniaq).
1. Opening A.
2. Exchange 2 loops distally (transferring R2 loop to L2 so that it becomes upper/distal L2 loop, then R2 picks up lower/proximal L2n and return, moving over the remaining L2 loop), extend.
3. Proximally transfer L2 loop to L1, transfer L5 loop to L1. Maintain loop order.
4. Insert proximally L5 into the two lower L1 loops, and stretch L5 towards the center so that L5 hooks down upper L1f (through proximal and middle L1 loops).
5. Turn the hands so that the fingers point away from the body. Distally (= from the far side) insert L2 into L1 upper two loops ; L2 hooks up lower L1n (passing through middle and distal L1 loops). Remove L1.
6. L1 picks up (from the near side) the two near oblical strings that form the lower part of the 'diamond' on the left side. Insert proximally L1 into L2 loop, and Navajo L1. Remove L2.
7. Remove R1 (= release R1 loop), remove R5 (release R5 loop), and distally insert R345 into R2 loop (and remove R2, then distally insert R2 into R345 loop) so that R2345 hold the string on the right. This is AMARURJUK, the wolf. By swaying the right hand, you can make it move as if running away.
2. Exchange 2 loops distally (transferring R2 loop to L2 so that it becomes upper/distal L2 loop, then R2 picks up lower/proximal L2n and return, moving over the remaining L2 loop), extend.
3. Proximally transfer L2 loop to L1, transfer L5 loop to L1. Maintain loop order.
4. Insert proximally L5 into the two lower L1 loops, and stretch L5 towards the center so that L5 hooks down upper L1f (through proximal and middle L1 loops).
5. Turn the hands so that the fingers point away from the body. Distally (= from the far side) insert L2 into L1 upper two loops ; L2 hooks up lower L1n (passing through middle and distal L1 loops). Remove L1.
6. L1 picks up (from the near side) the two near oblical strings that form the lower part of the 'diamond' on the left side. Insert proximally L1 into L2 loop, and Navajo L1. Remove L2.
7. Remove R1 (= release R1 loop), remove R5 (release R5 loop), and distally insert R345 into R2 loop (and remove R2, then distally insert R2 into R345 loop) so that R2345 hold the string on the right. This is AMARURJUK, the wolf. By swaying the right hand, you can make it move as if running away.
"Amarurjuk - wolf" (Aivilingmiut), "Amaruq - wolf" (Tununirmiut), Mathiassen 1928: 222-223.
"Amaγͻq - wolf", Jenness 1924: 39, XXVIII (fig. 37, Port Clarence to Coronation gulf, Inupiat, Inuvialuit, Inuinnait).
Birket-Smith 1929: 279, fig. (Qairnirmiut).
"The fox", Paterson 1949: 15, fig. 5 (Angmagssalik, Ubekendt Island, Upernavik, Cape York, Craig Harbour).
"Amarorjuk - le loup", Mary-Rousselière 1969: 25-26, fig. 19a (Arviligjuarmiut).
See Wirt et al. 2009: 286 (BISFA 16) for an illustrated description of the method of making based on Jenness 1924: 37 (XXVIII).
"Amaγͻq - wolf", Jenness 1924: 39, XXVIII (fig. 37, Port Clarence to Coronation gulf, Inupiat, Inuvialuit, Inuinnait).
Birket-Smith 1929: 279, fig. (Qairnirmiut).
"The fox", Paterson 1949: 15, fig. 5 (Angmagssalik, Ubekendt Island, Upernavik, Cape York, Craig Harbour).
"Amarorjuk - le loup", Mary-Rousselière 1969: 25-26, fig. 19a (Arviligjuarmiut).
See Wirt et al. 2009: 286 (BISFA 16) for an illustrated description of the method of making based on Jenness 1924: 37 (XXVIII).
- Item references
-
Key words : String figure; String game; Inuit; Iglulik; Eastern Canada; Arctic
-
Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)
-
Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA
-
Language : Inuktitut ; English
-
Location : Iglulik (Igloolik), Nunavut, Canada
-
Description : Iglulingmiut (Amitturmiut) Inuit string figure (Nunavut, Canada): symbolism, method of construction, references to the same figure as documented among different Inuit groups (Alaska, Canada, Greenland)