Snow goggles made by Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, including Native Alaskans such as the Inuit and Yup’ik, are remarkable technological achievements. This video considers how these ingenious goggles protected wearers from snow blindness and extreme winter conditions. Used for centuries, these snow goggles reflect deep knowledge of the Arctic landscape and the resourceful use of materials such as walrus ivory, wood, antler, and bone.

Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank

CHAPTERS

0:00 Introduction to snow goggles made by Native Alaskan people

0:40 Preventing snow blindness and protecting the eyes

1:07 Ingenious inventions

1:35 Museum collections