Disc number

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Disc numbers (Inuktitut: ᐅᔭᒥᒃ, singular: ujamik, dual: ujamiik, plural: ujamiit; Inuktitut pronunciation: [u.ja.mi] OO-ya-mee) were used by the Government of Canada in lieu of surnames for Inuit. They were similar to dog tags.^[1]

Prior to the arrival of European customs, Inuit had no need of family names, and children were given names by the elders. However, by the 1940s the record-keeping requirements of outside entities such as the missions, traders and the government brought about change. In response to the government's needs, the Government of Canada decided on the disc number system.