Muskrat have been an important aspect of human lifeways in the Mackenzie Delta region since time immemorial, and they continue to play an important role in Inuvialuit culture today; as attested to by the 63^rd annual Muskrat Jamboree festivities held in Inuvik earlier this year.  A focus on the importance of larger prey species in ancestral Inuvialuit subsistence practices has tended to overshadow the significance of the modest muskrat, despite the luxurious and technologically advantageous nature of their hides. This paper outlines my preliminary efforts at understanding the origins of the Inuvialuit-Muskrat relationships in the western extent of Inuit Nunangat, and how that relationship has evolved through time. Particular attention is paid to the nature of muskrat remains recovered from the archaeological record, and how this small rodent played a supporting role in Early Inuvialuit technologies.