Kids can learn how to illukisaaq. (Juggling balls) like how our ancestors played with homemade balls like these kind. Or can use small rocks as well. It is important to keep our cultural traditions alive, while juggling you sing the juggling song, quluppaajuusii quluppappaajuusii…

The benefits of creating culturally relevant resources is that, we can show kids how the balls are sewn, what’s inside it, talk about how it is best to sew them, so the beans or rice in it wont come out when playing with the balls. when you’re sewing the sealskin balls, you can also let kids sew felt balls to have it easier for kids the felt balls can be almost done for them, and they do the finishing small part.

-Joan

These were used to be game for girls/women while singing. With seal skin and or rocks. Kids can learn about basics too or just learn to juggle. These were used before but today we can use modern days materials, we can use them and learn about how our ancestors used to use them, laughing playing and mainly having fun, enjoying outdoors. Why this is important? It is important because we can pass on the knowledge we have from our parents/elders and younger once can also pass on what they have learn about what we taught them.

-Debbie

Here is the hand sewn seal skin, jiggling ball I made.

Inuit woman/girls used these. They jig the balls and sing a song at the same time. We teach children how to jig with balls.

-Annie

Here are the killing balls that can be used while singing jiggling game, kids can also use them to learn how to play with them. Seal skin or not you can learn how to play with jiggling balls

-Aileen

Bringing sealskin juggling balls could be relevant use in ECE centres if you bring the sealskin juggling balls to the centre and tell them they are made out of sealskin, tell them we don’t waste any food that was harvested along with their hide. Tell them we could sing qullupajuusi while juggling with the juggling balls. Tell them it was used for entertainment

Back in the day for children to watch their grandmothers, mothers, grandfathers and fathers along with aunties and uncles juggle and sing. -Jean

Having traditional seal skin juggling balls is a good source for the children. They can learn the ways are ancestors did when they sang and juggle balls. If children are interested in learning they can also teach what they’ve learned about these balls:)

Deanna