ANARULUKTURJUK, one who is defecating
Geolocation
Citation
Céline Petit, “ANARULUKTURJUK, one who is defecating,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/263.
- Overall presentation
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Name : ANARULUKTURJUK, one who is defecating
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Creator : Céline Petit
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Contributor(s) : Elisapi NUTARAKITTUQ, Iglulik, Nunavut, Canada
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Date : 2004-2021
- Information on the string figure
This string figure depicts a person who is defecating (anartuq).
The string segment representing the excrement (anaq, inuup ananga) is the part to be pulled out to undo the figure without creating any knot.
This figure is known among many Inuit groups: in most cases it is identified as referring to faeces (from a man, a dog or a caribou), but in some cases it is interpreted as portraying a bird (with its noose or its pellet).
The string segment representing the excrement (anaq, inuup ananga) is the part to be pulled out to undo the figure without creating any knot.
This figure is known among many Inuit groups: in most cases it is identified as referring to faeces (from a man, a dog or a caribou), but in some cases it is interpreted as portraying a bird (with its noose or its pellet).
1. Position 1.
2. R1 picks up L palmar string, L1 picks up R palmar string.
3. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
4. Insert proximally 5 into both 1 loops, 5 hooks down 2n.
5. Index Twist and Navajo 1.
6. R Katilluik. Proximally transfer 1 loop to 2.
7. Passing under R2n, R1 (pointing downward) picks up the two strings that form respectively the right side and the bottom side of the big 'triangle' formed on the right of the figure.
8. Proximally insert L1 into both R1 loops then proximally insert 1 into 2 loop. Navajo the two proximal 1 loops over the distal 1 loop. Remove 2.
9. From the far side of the figure, R2 (bended down) hooks up the double horizontal strings that run across the back of the figure. Distally pass R2 through the R1 loop, then down in front of the figure; R2 hooks up the TV 5f string between the two loops that pass around it. Draw R2 with the 5f string back through all the loops to the far side of the figure.
10. Insert R2 distally into R1 loop. Release L5 loop. L5 passes to the right under all strings, then distally enters the loop around R2 (which is pointing down through the R1 loop), and removes this loop from R2. Withdraw R2 from the R1 loop.
11. Close L5 to the left palm and separate hands to extend the figure. The man's small excrement (anakuluk mikittukuluk) appears as a small circle on the left, while the man is seen on the right.
(See Wirt et al. 2009: 20-21 - BISFA 16 for an illustrated description of the method of making based on Jenness 1924: 19, IX).
2. R1 picks up L palmar string, L1 picks up R palmar string.
3. Distally transfer 5 loop to 2.
4. Insert proximally 5 into both 1 loops, 5 hooks down 2n.
5. Index Twist and Navajo 1.
6. R Katilluik. Proximally transfer 1 loop to 2.
7. Passing under R2n, R1 (pointing downward) picks up the two strings that form respectively the right side and the bottom side of the big 'triangle' formed on the right of the figure.
8. Proximally insert L1 into both R1 loops then proximally insert 1 into 2 loop. Navajo the two proximal 1 loops over the distal 1 loop. Remove 2.
9. From the far side of the figure, R2 (bended down) hooks up the double horizontal strings that run across the back of the figure. Distally pass R2 through the R1 loop, then down in front of the figure; R2 hooks up the TV 5f string between the two loops that pass around it. Draw R2 with the 5f string back through all the loops to the far side of the figure.
10. Insert R2 distally into R1 loop. Release L5 loop. L5 passes to the right under all strings, then distally enters the loop around R2 (which is pointing down through the R1 loop), and removes this loop from R2. Withdraw R2 from the R1 loop.
11. Close L5 to the left palm and separate hands to extend the figure. The man's small excrement (anakuluk mikittukuluk) appears as a small circle on the left, while the man is seen on the right.
(See Wirt et al. 2009: 20-21 - BISFA 16 for an illustrated description of the method of making based on Jenness 1924: 19, IX).
"Anarlootetjew", Mutch 1900, Nbr. 28, AMNH Archives (Cumberland Sound)
"Qim.iq änaqtoaq - the dog and its ordure" (Mackenzie), "änäqopätciaq - the bird and its noose" (Coronation gulf), Jenness 1924: 19, IX (fig. 12, Inuvialuit, Inuinnait).
"The caribou and its manure", Birket-Smith 1929: 279 (Qairnirmiut).
"The man and his faeces", Paterson 1949: 19, fig. 14 (Ubekendt Island, Upernavik, Cape York).
"Ukpigjuk - le hibou blanc" [and its pellet], Mary-Rousselière 1969: 32-33, fig. 27 (Arviligjuarmiut). [Bubo scandiacus].
"Anarulirtujuq tagva anartuq - somebody with an active bowel", Blodgett 1986: 125-126, 138 (drawing by J. Angalik Nutarak, Mittimatalingmiuq).
"Qim.iq änaqtoaq - the dog and its ordure" (Mackenzie), "änäqopätciaq - the bird and its noose" (Coronation gulf), Jenness 1924: 19, IX (fig. 12, Inuvialuit, Inuinnait).
"The caribou and its manure", Birket-Smith 1929: 279 (Qairnirmiut).
"The man and his faeces", Paterson 1949: 19, fig. 14 (Ubekendt Island, Upernavik, Cape York).
"Ukpigjuk - le hibou blanc" [and its pellet], Mary-Rousselière 1969: 32-33, fig. 27 (Arviligjuarmiut). [Bubo scandiacus].
"Anarulirtujuq tagva anartuq - somebody with an active bowel", Blodgett 1986: 125-126, 138 (drawing by J. Angalik Nutarak, Mittimatalingmiuq).
- Item references
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Key words : String figure; String game; Inuit; Iglulik; Eastern Canada; Arctic
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Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)
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Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA
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Language : Inuktitut ; English
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Location : Iglulik (Igloolik), Nunavut, Canada
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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)