Little boys' jumpsuits (atajuq)
An atajuq is a garment that combines a parka with a pair of pants, and sometimes a pair of boots and mittens. It was especially well suited for children who could no longer be carried in the back pouch of their mother's coat but were still too young to put on and take off their boots and mittens without help.
An atajuq was made from the skin of a caribou killed in winter. In that season, the animal's skin is thicker and more resistant, thus making the garment very suitable for winter. For long trips, a child could also wear a similar jumpsuit underneath, with the fur on the inside and the subcutaneous fat on the outside, to keep warm. Finally, the jumpsuit has a slit between the legs to let the child squat and defecate or urinate.
This model of an atajuq was worn by little boys. Little girls wore a similar jumpsuit with white vertical strips and a tiny flap behind. This model could exist in several sizes, as shown by the examples presented here.
Nowadays, children no longer wear caribou-skin atajuq. They wear jumpsuits made of cloth or synthetic fabrics.
