Wolf Scarer
Bone, Sinew, Beads, wood
25 cm
Norton Island, Sledge Island, Alaska
Collector: L.W. Nelson
Museum ID number: NEL.C7.abdefmq.4596
Nelson describes a similar object, or perhaps this very object as a “buzz” or children’s toy:
“I obtained one [buzz] at St Michael made from the adjourning phalangeal bones of some animal, probably a seal, still united by their cartilage. The string is a single chord of sinew, which is made fast between the two middle bones, and at each end of the string is tied a short cross-stick for grasping.” – E.W. Nelson, The Eskimo About Bering Strait,1899
Rosemary Ahtuangaruak describes this object as follows:"It would have been a shaman’s tool. It’s a noise-maker and so, it would have been part of their rattles. You see it’s got the beaded string up here, which shows contact after [Euroamerican contact]. "
Ahtuangaruk described this object as a wolf scarer that could be spun to make a sound that would be used ceremonially as a shaman’s object.