That’s for ducks…there’s two points.
Hunters used arrows with double-headed bone points to shoot ducks and other waterfowl. The bone ends were forced apart when the arrow hit, clamping into the wound. An arrow that missed its target floated vertically in the water until it could be retrieved. This Gwich’in duck arrow is fletched with black raven feathers.
Trimble Gilbert: That’s for ducks.
Aron Crowell: For duck hunting?
Trimble Gilbert: Mm-hmm, this is for ducks. . . . And the feathers have to be changed. This is black so you could see that [it’s from a] raven. Water, every time they use it on the water, they use raven because it floats I think.
Aron Crowell: So this type of arrow will float vertically if you miss.
Trimble Gilbert: Yes, if you miss, it float like this [vertically with feathers above water]. . . .
Eliza Jones: Must be more hollow.
Trimble Gilbert: Yes. It float they said.
NMNH Staff: Why two points?
Trimble Gilbert: Maybe it won’t go away, hangs on in to that [space between arrow points]. Maybe it go in like that [arrow points close], and it won’t come out, like a little clamp.
Eliza Jones: Yes, so it hits like this – it forks and then it gets together.