The Inuit people of the Arctic have traditionally used two types of boats for transportation and hunting: the umiak and the KAYAK. An umiak is a large, open boat made of wood or whalebone and covered with animal skins. It is propelled by paddles and can carry several people. A KAYAK is a small, light boat made of wood or whalebone and covered with animal skins. It is propelled by a single person using a double-bladed paddle. Both the umiak and the KAYAK are essential to the Inuit way of life.