Butchering

3:48 min. - To the Innu, caribou is the most valued form of sustenance, providing all that is needed for survival in the bush. Please note that some scenes may contain images that may offend the sensibilities of visitors.

Transcription

Narrator - The first thing to do when skinning a caribou is to put out its eyes. Otherwise, the animal can give the impression of looking at the person who's skinning it. Next, you have to tie off the oesophagus to keep the food from regurgitating. You open up an adult caribou by slitting its belly. You must avoid perforating the abdominal cavity or the meat could have a bad taste. We always try to remove the largest possible piece of hide.
You must take great care with the caribou hide and cut it with precision, because it has many uses: shelters, blankets, clothing, shoes, mitts, and so forth. You'll know what to do with it as you're cutting it. The hide from a small caribou is used to make a drum. But if it was killed in September, we'll make children's clothing out of it. If it's an old caribou, it must be remembered that its hide is the least resistant, often with holes made by parasites. These hides are used for lacing snowshoes. In fact, each part of the hide is analyzed, and destined for a specific use.
Jean-Baptiste Bellefleur - We can make moccasins with the calves from the hind legs.