One of many Inuit fish caches, (qinngniit) spread along both banks of Iqaluktuuq (Max Friesen).

The success of the char runs at Iqaluktuuq was very important to the yearly survival of Iqaluktuurmiut. For this reason there were rules about proper behaviour while camping next to the river. If any of these rules were broken Iqaluktuurmiut believed that this could spell disaster for the group, as the fish may be offended and the run could collapse.

When fish were caught along the river one of the rules was that the fish had to be laid on the bank with its head facing the direction it was migrating. Once it had been split and laid on the fish drying rack the dorsal fin of the fish had to be facing the direction of its migration. Another important rule was that equipment could not be made or repaired beside the river or around the tents. There was a specific working place or hannavik established a distance back from the river where the people could work on their things without offending the fish.

Mannigyorina about to go fishing near Bernard Harbour, Northwest Territories. She is wearing ipirauhiit, June 29, 1916 (Diamond Jenness/CMC/37076).

Inuinnait fish drying racks and tents near Bernard Harbour, July 3, 1915 (Rudolph Martin Anderson/CMC/39360).