BRUNSWICK — “Animal Allies: Inuit Views of the Natural World,” a new exhibition that explores the relationship between humans and animals in the Inuit world, will open Friday, April 6, at the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College.

In conjunction with the exhibit, Peter Irniq, former commissioner of Nunavut and an advocate for Inuit culture, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center.

Irniq’s lecture, “Mending the Past: Memory and Politics of Forgiveness,” is free and open to the public.

Museum visitors may find themselves looking a polar bear in the eye, learning to pronounce the Inuit names for various animals, marveling at Inuit carvings of beings that seem half animal and half human, or touching a narwhal tusk.

The exhibit explores the Inuit world view in which humans and animals are interdependent and connected in profound ways.

“Inuit have to understand their environment thoroughly to survive,” said curator Genevieve LeMoine. “They are always watching and learning about animals, and passing this vast store of knowledge on to their kids. Increasingly, they are sharing this knowledge with scientists as well.”

Visitors will learn about the behavior of seals, whales, polar bears, caribou, and muskoxen by looking at contemporary Inuit carvings and prints, as well as traditional implements and clothing.

Inuit understanding of animals extends beyond the sorts of behavioral and population data typically collected by scientists. The exhibit explains how animals always watch how people behave toward animals. If humans treat animals with respect and are generous to other people by sharing the meat and skins animals provide, animals will be plentiful and humans will thrive. If treated with disrespect by Inuit or other groups, animals will shy away from human beings and people will experience hardships.

Arctic environments are changing rapidly. Increasingly, scientists are seeking environmental information from Inuit who have spent their lives closely observing the world around them. For their part, Inuit want to promote the respectful study and management of animals.

The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is in Hubbard Hall. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call 725-3416or visit www.bowdoin.edu/arctic-museum.