North American Eskimo(Inuits)

Shelter

• Igloo: Used in the winter on hunts; not permanent

• Sod Hut: Used in the summer

• Caribou skin tents: portable

• * They move where the hunt is---nomadic*

• Pre-made housing: Haul in different parts together

• Now, they stay in one place; don’t follow the hunt anymore

Traditional: Modern:

IGLOO

Caribou Skin Tent

Food, and how it is Obtained:

• Fishing in summer• Seal Hunting:

*Use kayak or dogsled to get to frozen lake/sea

*Stand over breathing hole: where the seals come up for air

*Stab with a harpoon: long stick with a detachable knife-like object

• Buy food from stores• If Eskimos do hunt, only

for recreation (like us)• Use guns, snowmobiles,

& motor boats

Traditional: Modern:

Hunting Seal

Breathing Hole

Harpoon

Sharing & Caring for Each Other

• Work together, hunt together, share food when needed

• During the hunting season, if the hunt is bad, the hunter is the last to die

• Hunting groups split up; more on your own

• Many have permanent jobs; can’t find time to hunt

Traditional: Modern:

Conservation

• Use all parts of dead animals

• “We take from the sea what were given; we give to each other what we have”

• Believe in spirits of nature

• Not all parts of animals used

Traditional: Modern:

Entertainment

• Storytelling (from elders & mostly about the hunt)

• Music• Carving

• T.V, Radios, video games

Traditional: Modern:

Other terms to know:

• Niliakchok: Story told to kids; A legend god of seals

• Ulu: Carving knife used on animals

• Bola: Three bags of caribou skin with feathers used to hunt birds