Alaska ULU Knife with a bear carrying a salmon through water on the blade NWT. Traditional Alaska Ulu Knife with a wooden handle. Includes a wooden display stand. For almost 5,000 years, the ultimate knife played a primary role in the life of Eskimos. These hand crafted knives were primarily used by the Eskimos for the skinning and cleaning of a variety of ocean life, including fish and sea mammals. The ulu blades were made from polished slate with carved bone, or ivory handles. Today, Eskimos continue to use the ulu's original design, but they now use new materials such as steel and wood. The ulu knife is more effective at cutting, chopping, and mincing than traditional kitchen cutlery because it places pressure directly over the blade rather than at the end of the blade. Although many new knives have been introduced, the versatility of the ulu knife continues to prove itself as the dominant food preparation knife among the people of Alaska and Northern Canada.