Indigenous Peoples Literature Digest and Wikipedia
Condensed by Native Village
Abraham Ulrikab was an Inuk from Labrador. In 1880, Abraham agreed to became part of a zoo exhibit in Hamburg, Germany. He was joined by his wife, two daughters and four other Inuit. The exhibit was a display of Inuit native ways. Zoo keepers insisted that Ulrikab and the others walk, talk, wear their fur parkas and throw harpoons to earn their keep.
The Inuit
arrived in
Hamburg on
September
24, 1880 and
were
immediately
put on
display. Those who
flocked to the
zoo expected to gape at
"exotics" from a "primitive
race". What they found
instead were Inuit who spoke
3 languages, played German
hymn tunes on violins, and
wrote their own notes about
"uncivilised" Europeans.
Part of those writings included a diary written by Abraham Ulrikab during his captivity. Abraham's diary was recently translated into English, and the CBC broadcasted a two-part documentary based on his writings.
Ulrikab's remarkable diary was written in his native language, Inuktitut. He describes in vivid detail the hardships and humiliation they endured. He also tells about the terrible beatings his son, Tobias, received by their master, Adrian Jacobsen.
After a brief stay at the zoo, the Inuit families were sent on a European tour. They were supposed to be vaccinated against smallpox, but this was never done. Five months after their arrival, the Inuit were all dead. Abraham died January 13, 1881 and his wife, Ulrike, the last to live, died January 16. The location of their graves is unknown.
|
Listen to
a reading of
Abraham
Ulrikab's
diary: http://www.batteryradio.com/Pages/Abraham.html |
|
 Ulrikab's family: Abraham, 35, Ulrike, 24, his wife Sara, 4, daughter Maria, infant daughter Tobias, 20, Ulrike's unmarried nephew. |
 The other family, whose surname is unknown: |
Artwork: http://www.batteryradio.com/Pages/Abraham.html
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