While their exact use is unknown, these seven whale figures were probably used as protective amulets for a hunter, possibly worn as a group around the neck. The presence of dorsal fins makes it likely that six of these figures represent orca whales. The seventh figure, with ridged back and lacking a dorsal fin, may depict a species of baleen whale.

The power of amulets is usually derived from the spirits associated with the materials from which they are constructed. A bond is created between an amulet’s resident spirits and its wearer, channeling certain characteristics and abilities between them. For example, a hunter’s prowess could be strengthened, or desirable attributes could be manifested upon an unborn child.

Most Inuit owned more than one amulet, sewing them into clothing or wearing them on a belt so the wearer could remain under their influence and protection at all times. With the introduction of Christianity, the practice of using amulets began to disappear. Amulets became symbols of Inuit interaction with non-Christian spirits and were layered with social stigma. While detailed knowledge regarding traditions of amulet use has been lost, the practice continues on a smaller scale in certain regions of the Arctic, sheltered from public knowledge.