Inuvialuit elders recognized this as naulaq, or harpoon head.  A harpoon is a type of spear used throughout the arctic for hunting sea mammals. Inuvialuit hunters still use harpoons for hunting seals and beluga whales, although today they are made from modern materials. Elders still remember making harpoons from more traditional materials

A harpoon had several pieces that were carefully made to fit together. Once a seal or whale was hit, the parts separated, and only the head remained in the animal.

This harpoon head has a socket at its base, into which a foreshaft was inserted. A blade was inserted into the slot at the other end.