The ESKIMOS

CURDOGLO LUDMILA
 WHO ARE THE ESKIMOS?

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 WHO ARE THE ESKIMOS?
Eskimos possess a unique culture
in a cold, harsh environment. They
belong to the Mongoloid racial group.

The two main peoples known as

"Eskimo" are: the Inuit of Canada,
Northern Alaska (sub-group "Inupiat"),
and Greenland; and theYupik of eastern
Siberia and Alaska.

Map of theInuit Circumpolar Council

of Eskimo peoples, showing the
Yupik peoples(Yupik, Siberian Yupik)
3 andInuit(Iupiat, Inuvialuit, Nunavut,
Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, Kalaallit)
 HISTORY
The earliest positively identified North American Eskimo cultures
(pre-Dorset) date to 5,000 years ago. They appear to have developed in
Alaska from people related to the Arctic small tool tradition in eastern
Asia, whose ancestors had probably migrated to Alaska at least 3,000
to 5,000 years earlier. Similar artifacts have been found in Siberia that
date to perhaps 18,000 years ago.

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 ORIGIN
In 1978, Jose Mailhot, a Quebec anthropologist who
speaks Montagnais, published a paper suggesting that
Eskimo meant "people who speak a different language".

AnIupiatfamily fromNoatak, Alaska, 1929

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 ORIGIN

Via FrenchEsquimaux, possibly from

Spanishesquimao,esquimal, from Montagnais
ayass kimewperson who laces a snowshoe, probably
applied first to the Micmac and later to the Eskimo.
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 WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK?
The language of the Inuit is an EskimoAleut language. It is fairly closely
related to the Yupik languages, and more remotely to the Aleut language. These
cousin languages are all spoken in Western Alaska and Eastern Chukotka, Russia.

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 IS THE WORD ESKIMO OFFENSIVE?
Although the name "Eskimo" is commonly used in
Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world,
this name is consideredderogatory in many other
places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was
said to mean "eater of raw meat".

An Inuit family, c.1917

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 WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE INUIT
CULTURAL GROUP?
Traditional Inuit way of life was influenced by the harsh climate and
stark landscapes of the Arctic tundra from beliefs inspired by stories of
the aurora to practicalities like homes made of snow. Inuit invented tools,
gear, and methods to help them survive in this environment.

Inuit throat singing

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 DO ESKIMOS LIVE IN IGLOO?
"They live in igloos." The word "igloo" or iglu simply means "house". The
snow house identified with the people was built as a temporary shelter
during hunting seasons in the late winter and spring.

This picture shows several Inuit constructing an igloo with blocks

of snow. Traditionally, Inuit lived in igloos during the coldest
10 months and tent like huts during the warmer months.
 GETTING AROUND
To travel from one place to another, Inuit used sleds made of animal bones
and skins pulled over the snow and ice by dogs. Strong dogs with thick fur like
huskies, bred by Inuit, were used. On the waters of the Arctic Ocean, small
boats called kayaks were used for hunting while larger boats called umiaq
transported people, dogs, and supplies.

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 WHAT FOOD DO THEY EAT IN THE
ARCTIC?
Because Inuit live in places where most plants cannot grow, the
traditional diet consisted of almost entirely meat. Inuit fished and hunted
to get their food. Peoples in arctic regions have traditionally eaten a
variety of fish, seals, whales and caribou, as well as the numerous types
of plants and delicious berries that grow naturally in the Arctic.

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 CLOTHING FOR STAYING WARM
Traditional Inuit clothing was made from animal skins (polar bear,
fox, wolf) and fur. Boots were also made from animal skins. Large, thick
coats with big hoods called parkas were worn as an outer layer.

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 WHAT IS AN ESKIMO KISS?
An eskimo kiss in modern Western culture is the act of pressing the
tip of one's nose against another's. It is loosely based on a
traditional Inuit greeting called a kunik.

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 THANK YOU

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