Eskimos

Eskimo, more commonly called Inuit, is a term used to describe people who primarily live in the far north, usually the Arctic. The Arctic is located north of the Arctic Circle, and although it has extreme cold temperatures, Eskimos have adapted to the harsh environment both physically and culturally. Most Eskimos are compactly built, having a barrel-shaped torso and short arms and legs, which minimize heat loss. In addition, it is only in the last 50 to 100 years that the Eskimo way of life, which remained virtually unchanged for tens of thousands of years, has become more “modern.” Before the 1900s, the Eskimo lifestyle mainly varied depending on the environment and season. The most important aspects of Eskimo life at that time included shelter, food, clothing, and transportation.

In the winter months, some Eskimos built igloos or snowhouses, while others lived in sod houses. The igloos were built for temporary shelter while the Eskimos moved to find food. During the summer, they lived in tents made of seal or caribou skin, depending on which animal was readily available.

Eskimos also hunted seal and caribou and fished for food. Seals were hunted year-round, while caribou were hunted only during the summer and fall. Eskimos hunted seals using different techniques depending on the season. In the fall and winter, seals were taken from the sea ice close to shore. During the spring, hunters killed seals as they slept on the ice, and during the summer, Eskimos hunted seals with harpoons from kayaks. When hunting caribou, women and children helped by chasing the animals toward the waiting men, who then used spears or bows and arrows to make the kills.

Fishing was also common in Eskimo culture. Eskimos fished with forked spears that had hooks made of bone or antler. Salmon, cod, and seal provided the majority of the nutrients from the sea. Many Eskimos preferred to eat meat raw, because otherwise it took a long time to cook over small flames. In addition, raw meat provided Eskimos with essential nutrients that cooking destroyed. This is one of the theories of how Eskimos got their name, which in Abenaki means “eaters of raw meat.” Others believe that Eskimo is a Montagnais word that refers to the way Eskimo snowshoes were laced.

Hunting and fishing provided Eskimos not only with food but also clothing. Clothes were made from animal skins, usually caribou because it was lightweight and warm. The style of dress varied between regions, but all Eskimo clothing was similar. The general attire consisted of a hooded jacket, trousers, socks, boots, and mittens. Many women decorated their clothing with beads and furs. Sealskin was used for soles because it allowed moisture to escape, but it kept in heat. During the winter months, it was common for Eskimos to wear two suits of clothing. An inner suit with fur was worn next to the skin, while an outer suit with fur facing outside was worn on top. The air between the suits kept body heat in and allowed perspiration to evaporate. When the weather was warmer, only the inner suit was worn.

...