Goahti
Mukluk
Mukluks were originally invented and worn by Arctic natives long ago, including the Inuit and Yupik, to keep their feet warm and dry during even the coldest days of winter.
Like a kind of tall moccasin-boot, mukluks are soft-soled insulated boots made of caribou skin or sealskin.
Yupik mukluks were traditionally made with sealskin soles, making them very light and quiet to walk in (helping hunters to move very quietly).
Mukluks were not just for hunting and keeping warm. They were also used for ceremonial dances.
Mukluks can be decorated with pompons and beads, and may be lined with furs, such as rabbit. Caribou hide is sometimes used for the strings. Blueberries and cranberries were used to dye decorative thread.
Our GoNorth! explorers wear something very similar to the natives' mukluks, but the bottoms are made of moose hide with durable, flexible rubber sole. This allows their feet to move (every time you take a step the foot actually bends), increasing blood flow so that their feet are toasty warm no matter what the temperature. Also, since these boots are made of animal hide, the boots breathe, allowing sweat to escape so feet stay dry, an important part of staying warm. Finally, the explorers' mukluks are less than half the weight of traditional snow boots, like Sorels, making it easier for them to move fast using less effort (and energy).
Sources courtesy of: http://www.answers.com/topic/mukluk, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukluk, http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/schools/upk/projectsfolder/var/mukluks.html
Image courtesy of: http://bloodysheets.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_bloodysheets_archive.html
