ESKIMO/INUITS
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
• Eskimo Eaters of Raw Meat
• Inuit Real People
• Human Behavior is largely controlled by Environment
• They have a semi-Nomadic Life.
• Still in their primitive age of development.
• The basic needs i.e. food, clothing, shelter and tools of
people, socio-economic life and culture is closely
influenced by environmental factors.
TERRITORY
• Generally confined to Arctic Tundra which is a treeless area
encircling North Pole.
• Habitat of Eskimos : USA(Alaska) , Canada, Greenland, Russia.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
• A treeless area
• Prolonged darkness during winters
• Little Summers
• Extremely severe winters and surface remains frozen for about
7 to 8 months in a year.
• The main danger to the inhabitants of Tundra is from blizzards
and storms which are a serious threat to nervous and thermal
balance of the body.
• Rain and Snowfall is very small but the snow is piled up for
about 7-8 months due to higher latitude.
FAUNA
• Fauna adopts itself to cold.
• Bodies of warm blooded animals are naturally covered with
thick fur.
• Prominent mammals are : Arctic Fare, Arctic Foxes, Snowy
owl.
• Polar bears, Elks, Reindeers, Geese, Ducks appear in the region
and are prayed upon by wolverine as well as man.
• Seal and Walrus are main sea mammals.
RACIAL FEATURES
• Mongoloids by race
• Short Statured – flat but narrow face, small nose , yellow –
brown skin color & coarse and straight black hairs.
• They wear clothes made of reindeer skin and furs.
• The most striking feature of Eskimo culture is the
homogeneity across more than 8000 KM ; the culture, social
and economic patterns are same.
• Main dialects :
1. Inupik : Greenland & West Alaska
2. Yupik : Southwest Alaska & Siberia
IGLOOS
• Igloos are the special houses made using large blocks of snow.
• Generally, the migratory Eskimos construct Igloos.
SOCIETY
• They have primarily lived as hunters of Maritime
mammals(Seal, Walrus etc.).
• Society is Patrilineal Society in which oldest person
commands the highest respect.
• The young men are rigorously trained for the difficult and
exhausting task of animal hunting.
• During summer(July-September), several bands of Eskimos
join together for festivals and ceremonies.
• The Common elements of Eskimo Culture are the Bow, arrow,
salmon spear, large open boats, snow shoes, tailored clothing ,
etc.
• They also practice Silent Trade.
• The cycle of Animal Life dictates the pattern of traditional
Eskimo Activity
• War is almost unknown among the Eskimos.
• The Struggle of life is greater among the Eskimos than among
any other people.
• Theft and Robbery are unknown among the Eskimos.
• The marriage is pre-arranged which are quite successful.
• Marriage without love is the rule of Eskimo Society.
• The society is monogamous.
• The non-availability of wood is met by using animal fat.
• The skin of Reindeer and Caribou provide the clothing of
Eskimos. Clothes are being stitched by Women.
• To protect themselves from Snow blindness, they wear Slit
Goggles of ivory.
• For travelling, Eskimos use sledge.
• Sledge is being drawn by a dog team and sometimes
Reindeers.
• The Eskimos have now been involved in Modern World, but
their traditional beliefs and practices haven’t been thoroughly
changed.
• The Eskimos of Greenland have started a fishing industry.
• Education, Medical Services and local self government are the
modes of governance.
• Eskimos have been now drawn into Fur trade and have been
encouraged to produce surplus of skin of fur-bearing animals.
CONCLUSION
• The society of Eskimos and of those who are living in the
Arctic is a typical example which explains how man has made
the best use of the available limited recourses in the harsh
Environment.
• In brief, the Human life in Tundra is of Constant struggle for
survival which does not give enough time for the satisfaction
of higher needs and the overall progress is hindered.
• Though their life is changing but still the roe of physical
environment is strikingly significant in the Arctic region.
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