Peoples of the American ArcticPeoples of the American Arctic

Coastal and Inland InuitCoastal and Inland Inuit

Peoples of the Circumpolar RegionPeoples of the Circumpolar Region

Those who adapt to the polar regions Those who adapt to the polar regions in various waysin various ways

The Inuit (Eskimo) of North America The Inuit (Eskimo) of North America and Greenlandand Greenland

The Aleut of the Bering StraitThe Aleut of the Bering Strait

The peoples of Siberia: ChukcheeThe peoples of Siberia: Chukchee

The Lapps of northern ScandinaviaThe Lapps of northern Scandinavia

Peoples of the American ArcticPeoples of the American Arctic

The primary focus of this section The primary focus of this section are two Inuit (Eskimo)— are two Inuit (Eskimo)—

The coastal Tareumiut The coastal Tareumiut

The inland NunamiutThe inland Nunamiut

Location of the InuitLocation of the Inuit

Eskimo (Inuit) range from western Alaska to GreenlandEskimo (Inuit) range from western Alaska to GreenlandAleut occupy the namesake Aleutian islands of the Bering StraitAleut occupy the namesake Aleutian islands of the Bering Strait

Location of the Tareumiut and Location of the Tareumiut and Nunamiut Nunamiut

Dark green shading: The Tareumiut (coastal) and Dark green shading: The Tareumiut (coastal) and Nunamiut (inland) of the Inupiaq language family Nunamiut (inland) of the Inupiaq language family

Inuit and Eskimo: Two TermsInuit and Eskimo: Two TermsThe term “Eskimo” means “eater of raw meat”The term “Eskimo” means “eater of raw meat”They were named thus by the Chipewyan They were named thus by the Chipewyan Indians—and not intended as a complimentIndians—and not intended as a complimentThe standard term is now “Inuit,” meaning The standard term is now “Inuit,” meaning “the people.”“the people.”Local peoples are named with the suffix -Local peoples are named with the suffix -miutmiut, , which also means “the people.”which also means “the people.”For example, residents living near the Utokak For example, residents living near the Utokak River are known as “Utokagmiut.” River are known as “Utokagmiut.”

Nanook of the North: A Nanook of the North: A Re-enactmentRe-enactment

Nanook of the North Nanook of the North is another inland is another inland band filmed on Baffin Islandband filmed on Baffin IslandTheir hunting, trade, and igloo Their hunting, trade, and igloo construction are parallel to the Nunamiutconstruction are parallel to the NunamiutThe film was largely a staged re-The film was largely a staged re-enactment of Eskimo life, filmed by Robert enactment of Eskimo life, filmed by Robert Flaherty in 1922Flaherty in 1922It was not dissimilar to Asen Balikci’s It was not dissimilar to Asen Balikci’s The The Netsilik Eskimo Netsilik Eskimo which was also a re-which was also a re-enactment, this time filmed in the 1960senactment, this time filmed in the 1960s

Tareumiut HabitatTareumiut HabitatHabitat: the north shore Habitat: the north shore includes whales, walruses, includes whales, walruses, seals, and polar bearsseals, and polar bearsWhales are the most highly Whales are the most highly valued because of the large valued because of the large volume of meat and blubber volume of meat and blubber they yieldthey yieldWhalers hunt using large boats Whalers hunt using large boats led by aled by a umealiq umealiq (or “boat (or “boat owner” (upper left)owner” (upper left)Of course, snowmobiles now Of course, snowmobiles now are used; this one is hauling an are used; this one is hauling an umiak (open boat) to the umiak (open boat) to the hunting site (lower left)hunting site (lower left)

Tareumiut VillagesTareumiut VillagesBecause of the high Because of the high productivity, the Tareumiut productivity, the Tareumiut form permanent winter form permanent winter villages of 200-300, similar villages of 200-300, similar to this oneto this one

Even so, there is a hungry Even so, there is a hungry season in which few animals season in which few animals of any kind are availableof any kind are available

As the photo shows, global As the photo shows, global warming has affected this warming has affected this villagevillage

Nunamiut HabitatNunamiut HabitatIn summer, the main animals hunted In summer, the main animals hunted are caribou (a reindeer species) for are caribou (a reindeer species) for meat and fox for peltsmeat and fox for peltsLike the Tareumiut, have a season of Like the Tareumiut, have a season of abundance, hunting the caribou as abundance, hunting the caribou as groupsgroupsIn winter, the Nunamiut hunt in small In winter, the Nunamiut hunt in small groups or individuallygroups or individuallySeals are the primary sources of Seals are the primary sources of meat and oil for fire and lampsmeat and oil for fire and lamps

Social OrganizationSocial OrganizationBoth Tareumiut and Nunamiut form nuclear Both Tareumiut and Nunamiut form nuclear familiesfamiliesEmphasis in family relations is control of Emphasis in family relations is control of aggressionaggressionHunting partners bind one household with Hunting partners bind one household with anotheranotherThere is an obligation to share if one There is an obligation to share if one household bags a sealhousehold bags a sealOften, this obligation induces families to Often, this obligation induces families to strike out on their ownstrike out on their ownThe downside: risk of starvationThe downside: risk of starvation

Conflict and WarConflict and WarInuit have an incentive to keep Inuit have an incentive to keep aggression under controlaggression under controlOveraggressive man are Overaggressive man are ostracized, dangerous in a frozen ostracized, dangerous in a frozen environmentenvironmentWarfare is rare, but has been Warfare is rare, but has been known to happenknown to happenIssues of conflict: extramarital Issues of conflict: extramarital sex.sex.

Leadership and PoliticsLeadership and PoliticsThey have “no bosses on top of each other,” They have “no bosses on top of each other,” but leaders do emerge when hunting in but leaders do emerge when hunting in groupsgroupsLeadership is more advisory; no leader has Leadership is more advisory; no leader has the power to order people aroundthe power to order people aroundThe sanctions of ostracism tend to keep the The sanctions of ostracism tend to keep the would-be dominant males in checkwould-be dominant males in checkWarfare is almost nonexistent, but has been Warfare is almost nonexistent, but has been reportedreportedThe ideal man: “hard working, generous, who The ideal man: “hard working, generous, who has no wish to place himself above the heads has no wish to place himself above the heads of others”of others”

Housing StructuresHousing StructuresThe Tareumiut live in The Tareumiut live in permanent houses constructed permanent houses constructed of sod—winter or summerof sod—winter or summer

These houses are spread out These houses are spread out along the coast along the coast

The Nunamiut construct The Nunamiut construct geodesic-shaped igloos.geodesic-shaped igloos.

The tunnel keeps out the cold The tunnel keeps out the cold windswinds

Some designs involve a curved Some designs involve a curved entrance tunnelentrance tunnel

Inuit TechnologyInuit TechnologyThough foragers, the Inuit have a complex Though foragers, the Inuit have a complex technology compared to the !Kung or native technology compared to the !Kung or native AustraliansAustralians

Much of their technology has been imitated Much of their technology has been imitated elsewhereelsewhere

The parka and muk-luks (boots) effectively resist the The parka and muk-luks (boots) effectively resist the cold and have been imitated in industrial societiescold and have been imitated in industrial societies

Kayaks, boats with the top closed except for the Kayaks, boats with the top closed except for the paddler’s perch, are easily righted if capsized.paddler’s perch, are easily righted if capsized.

As a geodesic dome, igloos afford low wind As a geodesic dome, igloos afford low wind resistance, and the ice window provides both light resistance, and the ice window provides both light and heatand heat

Nanook of the NorthNanook of the NorthFor the assignment, observe the following:For the assignment, observe the following:

Hunting seal and walrusHunting seal and walrus

Constructing an iglooConstructing an igloo

The composition of Nanook’s familyThe composition of Nanook’s family

Compare the technology and social organization of Compare the technology and social organization of Nanook’s group with the Nunamiut your book Nanook’s group with the Nunamiut your book describesdescribes

How does Nanook’s group differ from the How does Nanook’s group differ from the Tareumiut? Tareumiut?

You should include these observations in the You should include these observations in the questions that accompany this unit.questions that accompany this unit.

Conclusion: Adaptations in Cold Conclusion: Adaptations in Cold

ClimatesClimates Main differences of Inuit from nomadic bands in the Main differences of Inuit from nomadic bands in the tropics:tropics:Colder climate requires protective clothing and Colder climate requires protective clothing and sheltershelterDiet is almost all meat, except during the summersDiet is almost all meat, except during the summersSimilarities between Inuit and nomadic bands in Similarities between Inuit and nomadic bands in the tropics:the tropics:Food is subject to seasonal variation Food is subject to seasonal variation Groups are small, generally family based bandsGroups are small, generally family based bandsLeadership is informalLeadership is informalThere is an egalitarian emphasis, controlling There is an egalitarian emphasis, controlling “upstarts”“upstarts”Warfare is rareWarfare is rare