Amy and I went to see and participate in some of the Fur Rendezvous festival activities (Michael was working, as usual, so he didn't get to go with us!). We visited the snow sculptures.
Unfortunately, a lot of the sculptures had melted due to our very warm temps during Fur Rondy.
However, some of the sculptures were still standing! 
One event we wanted to see was "The Blanket Toss".
This blanket is made out of several bearded seal skins sewn together to make one giant blanket! The Native Alaskans are permitted to hunt whales, seals, and walruses to survive. These hunts are a very ceremonial and traditional part of their culture. The Native Alaskans truly do respect and honor these animals. 
People, or the tribe, all gather around this blanket and pull together in unison.
This blanket is so strong that it can hold a grown woman (Amy, in this case)! The pullers pull and pull (kind of the same motion as rowing a boat) until...
they pull one hard time, and BAM! The person in the middle is thrown up into the air! It's kind of like a trampoline, but not as bouncy or soft when you land! (Due to my pregnancy, I did not pull or bounce...I just took pictures!)
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