String Figure: Tartoruterjuk

This is a traditional figure of the Arviligjuarmiut people. It is made near Kugaaruk, Nunavut. These instructions were adapted from: Mary-Rousselière, Guy. Les jeux de ficelle des Arviligjuarmiut. Ministère du Nord Canadien et des ressources nationales, 1969 p. 67.

1. Form Opening A
2. Thumbs picks up radial little finger strings.
3. The indices pick up the ulnar thumb strings.
4. Left thumb picks up distal radial string from right thumb.
5. The right thumb releases its loops, and enters all three left thumb loops from the proximal side.
6. The thumbs travel over all the strings and pick up the ulnar little finger string.
7. Navaho the bottom three thumb loops.
8. The thumbs get the distal ulnar index strings.
9. Navaho the thumbs again.
10. Release the little fingers.
11. The little fingers enter the thumb loops from the proximal side, and catch the transverse string, hooking it to the palm.
12. Release the thumbs.
13. Navaho the indices and extend.