Featured Eskimo or Inuit? loom(?) carved with fish figures

Can someone tell me what I found at the thrift store today?It's carved? from wood with fish figures & mother of pearl or abalone for decoration.
The fish make me think it may be by Eskimo/Inuit? And it reminds me of a couple of antique loom pieces I've had for a while?
Any help would be appreciated - did I hit a home run today?!!
Thanks

 

Is it anything like these?

 

Fortunately for you there is probably someone here who knows what it is. I am curious if it is open all the way through like the shuttles you show or if it's more like a canoe.

The insets remind me of these said to be Solomon Island, but then I don't know if that's correct either.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/western-solomons-solomon-islands-hand-291141306

 

Slit gong/drum?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/south-pacific-island-solomon-island-1936463400

 

Not a loom shuttle.
The wood looks like a tropical species. And it looks like one of the creatures depicted is a stingray - common in tropical waters.
Can you provide dimensions? How deep is the slot on the top - a shallow carving or deep enough to be a container for something?
I think @say_it_slowly is on to something with Solomon Islands. Perhaps it is a replica of a slit drum, made for tourists.

 

Do Eskimo/Inuit carvers typically use wood, I thought there isn't much wood that far north? I would think stone and bone would be more likely but WDIK!

 

The wood looks like ebony and I'm guessing the slot is just there to hold a missing decorative piece, so this is basically the stand or bottom bit of something.

This is not a drum.

 

In brief: not typically; but sometimes; and there are artists there who might use wood for some purposes. However, this does not appear to be Eskimo/Inuit.

 

Solomon Islands wood carvings are noted for their shell inlay, and often use images of sea life. "The wood commonly used by the carvers includes Ebony, Rosewood, Kou or Kerosene wood."
http://www.solomonislandsinfocus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=555

 

OK the piece measures 13" long total, slot is 11" long x 1/2" wide x 3/4" deep (and it does not go all the way through!)

 

Maybe decorative, to hold a picture frame???? Does it rock at all or is it a flat, solid, level bottom?? Otherwise some sort of picture frame idea wouldn't hold up.........

 

just a WAG - Could it be a holder for an ulu blade? the sea life depicted could represent the type of seafood to be prepared using the knife?

 

it's not a flying shuttle, or inuit, ...it is a Solomon island carving.

 

Another OK for Solomon Island carving.

 

komokwa, any idea what it was used for?

 

To sell to tourists. It is a very nice souvenir, and could be a miniature take on a slit drum, like some of the others said.

 

I have to go with SIS, & AJ........ slit drum form, sold as a tourist keepsake ...