Inuit Tribe

This article contains interesting facts, pictures and information about the life of the Inuit Native American Indian Tribe of the Arctic cultural group.The Inuit TribeSummary and Definition: The Inuit tribe were a hardy people who were nomadic fishermen and hunters. The Inuit tribe lived on the western and northern coasts along the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The Inuit survived the harsh climate in Igloos made of snow bricks or in the temporary tepee-shaped tents that were used on hunting trips.Facts about the Inuit Native Indian TribeThis article contains fast, fun facts and interesting information about the Inuit Native American Indian tribe. Find answers to questions like where did the Inuit tribe live, what clothes did they wear and what did they eat? Discover what happened to the Inuit tribe with facts about their history and culture.Facts about the Inuit Native Indian Tribe: Lifestyle and CultureThe lifestyle of the Inuit tribe was hard, dictated by the cold, harsh climate and the barren, desolate landscape of the Arctic tundra which has been aptly described as a 'snow desert'. The name “Inuit” means “the people” in the Inuktitut dialect of their language. At one time they were referred to as "Eskimo". The word "Eskimo" derives from an Algonquian word meaning "Eaters of Raw Flesh". The word Eskimo was used to described the Inuit, Yupik and Inupiat people. The name Eskimo is used less frequently than in the passed in deference to the wishes of the Inuit people.

Communities of Inuit people are found across the Arctic and are most closely related to the Aleut people. The chief source of food are whales, sea lions, seals and walruses. Smaller fish, and land animals such as caribou and small birds were also part of their diet. The Inuit lived either in tents made of Caribou hides, or in igloos as seen in the above picture.Where did the Inuit tribe live?The Inuit are people of the Arctic Native American cultural group. The location of their tribal homelands are shown on the map in present-day Alaska, Canada and Greenland. The geography of the region in which they lived dictated the lifestyle and culture of the Inuit tribe.

● Land: An inhospitable landscape consisting of a flat, stark, cold and snowy, treeless, tundra region

● Climate: Extreme, cold arctic climate● Animals: The animals included seal, caribou, sea lions, otter, polar bears, arctic

hare, whale, walrus and Artic birds● Natural Resources: Fish, limited seasonal berries and plants● Transport: Dogsleds (qamutik), snowshoes, and leather-covered, watertight

canoes and open fishing boats such as Inuit Kayaks

Map showing location of the Artic Native American Cultural Group

What did the Inuit tribe live in?The Inuit tribe tribe were semi-nomadic and needed shelters that were easy to erect

and take down and those that were more permanent. The Inuit therefore lived in different types of shelters, depending on the season. The types of shelters were an igloo or a karmak for the winter and tepee, tent-like shelters in the warmer weather.

● Igloo : The round igloo shelters, snow houses, were made made from blocks of snow and built in various sizes, sometimes housing up to 20 people

● Karmak: The karmak was an earth-covered pithouse built about 5-6 feet underground and 2-3 feet above, with a frame of wood or whalebone. The entrance to the karmak was an underground passageway.

● The Inuit ceremonial house was called a 'kashim' and constructed using a post and beam framework and sod covering

Tents: The Inuit tents, as seen in the picture, were shaped and erected like a tepee but constructed using tough caribou hides and whalebone.

What language did the Inuit tribe speak?The Inuit tribe spoke in Eskimo-Aleut languages and Athabascan.

What forms of transport did the Inuit tribe use?The Inuit tribe used different forms of transportation that suited their harsh, snow filled environment. The above picture shows a man wearing snowshoes in front of a sled that was pulled by dogs. The Inuit bred strong, working dogs with thick furs, like huskies. The people used sleds and toboggans to transport people and possessions across the snow. A sled has runners and a raised platform whereas a toboggan has no runners and their platforms sit directly on the snow. Rawhide strips, called babiche, were used for binding and support when making toboggans, snowshoes and other objects. A kayak was boat that help one or two people, with an enclosed cockpit. Kayaks were made by

stretching hide over a wooden frame. The Inuit also used a large, open, flat-bottomed boat called an umiak that was built by stretching hide (usually walrus hide) over a wooden frame.

What food did the Inuit eat?The staple diet of the Inuit were fish products. These were supplemented by the meat obtained from sea animals such as the seal, whale, sea lions and walrus. Caribou was also eaten as were small birds and otters. The people practised breathing-hole (mauliqtoq) seal hunting.What clothes did the Inuit wear?The clothes, mitts and boots worn by the Inuit tribe were made from fur and animal skins. To keep warm they tended to wear layers of clothes which were topped by thick, heavy, fur-lined hooded coats called Parkas. Short-waisted inner parkas were worn with long, narrow back tails, and wrist-length sleeves. The Inuit wore fitted clothing in contrast with the loosely hung garments of other regions. The parkas worn by Inuit women were distinguished by elongated hoods, and exaggerated, pointed shoulders, they were also made large enough so a woman could carry an infant. Snow shoes were an important article of clothing. A soft and supple Inuit boots, called Mukluks, usually made from sealskin, were also worn by the Inuit.

Sioux TribeThis article contains interesting facts, pictures and information about the life of the Sioux Native American Indian Tribe of the Great Plains.

The Sioux TribeSummary and Definition: The Sioux tribe fiercely resisted the white encroachment of the Great Plains. The names of the most famous chiefs who led the Sioux tribe into battle were Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Chief Gall, Crazy Horse, Rain in the Face, and Kicking Bear. Famous conflicts included the Sioux Wars (1854 - 1890), Red Cloud's War (1865–1868), the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn and the 1890 Ghost Dance turmoil.

Sioux Native American Indian Tribe and their tepees

Facts about the Sioux Native Indian TribeThis article contains fast, fun facts and interesting information about the Sioux Native American Indian tribe. Find answersto questions like where did the Sioux tribe live, what clothes did they wear, what did they eat and who were the names of their most famous leaders? Discover what happened to the Sioux tribe with facts about their wars and history.What was the lifestyle and culture of the Sioux tribe?The Sioux tribe were famous for their hunting and warrior culture. Warfare was a central part of the Plains Indian culture which led to inter-tribal conflicts and violent clashes with the white settlers and the US army. Siouan men were noted for their great courage and physical strength. They were a nomadic tribe who roamed the Great Plains hunting the buffalo (bison). The buffalo provided the tribe with everything they needed - food, clothes and their tepees. The Siouan men wore face paint for religious ceremonies and, more famously war paint in times of war. War Paint was used to make Sioux warriors look ferocious and the designs and colors that were used were believed to hold magical powers of protection. The name Sioux derives from the Siouan word 'Nadowessi' meaning "Little Snakes".

Sioux Nation History - The Lakota, Dakota and NakotaThe Sioux nation ((Hocak Saha)) were the largest of all the Native Indian tribes and consisted of three divisions which were based on their location, dialect and their subculture. The Sioux tribe originally lived as Woodland Indians along the upper Mississippi in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The were forced west by the French and their Chippewa allies. During the migration west to the Great Plains the tribe split into three divisions - the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota. The names Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota all mean "Allies" or "Confederates."

● The Lakota Sioux, noted for their warrior culture, were from the west and consisted of seven bands including the Oglala, Hunkpapa, Sicangu, Miniconjous, Sihasapa, Oohenumpa and the Itazipacola. The Lakota were also known as the Tetonwan/Teton, the 'Dwellers on the Plains'. The Lakota were the major opponents of the US Army during the Sioux Wars

● The Dakota Sioux, also known as the Isanti/Santee, were from the east and consisted of four bands called the Sisseton, Wahpekute, Mdeakantonwon and the Wahpeton. Named the 'Knife Makers'

● The Nakota Sioux, also known as the Ihanktown, were the smallest division located in the east and consisted of three bands called the Yankton, the Upper Yankton and the Lower Yankton. Named the 'Keepers of the Sacred Pipestone'

Where did the Sioux tribe live?The Sioux are people of the Great Plains Native American cultural group. The location of their tribal homelands are shown on the map. The geography of the region in which they lived dictated the lifestyle and culture of the Sioux tribe.

● The American Great Plains region mainly extended across states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota

● Tribal Territories: North Dakota and South Dakota● Land: Grass covered prairies with streams and rivers● Climate: Hot summers and cold winters● Animals: The animals included the Bison (Buffalo), deer, cougars, elk, bear,

beaver, porcupine, antelope, prairie dogs, eagles and wolves

eWhat did the Sioux tribe live in?The Sioux tribe lived in tent-like homes called tepees. The Tepee was constructed from wooden poles that were covered with durable animal skins such as buffalo hides. It was pyramid shaped, with flaps and openings, rounded at the base and tapering to an open smoke hole at the top. Tepees had few furnishings. Buffalo hides were used for seating, bedding, and covers. A hearth was built in the center of the tepee for cooking and heating. Most tepees were approximately 12 to 16 feet in diameter at the base. This type shelter suited the nomadic lifestyle of the Sioux tribe. A tepee was quick to erect and easy to dismantle. A Siouan village could be ready to move within an hour.What language did the Sioux tribe speak?The Sioux tribe spoke in the Siouan language.What food did the Sioux tribe eat?The food that the Sioux tribe ate included the meat from all the animals that were available to hunt: Buffalo, deer, elk, bear and wild turkey. These were supplemented with roots and wild vegetables such as spinach, prairie turnips and potatoes and flavored with wild herbs. Wild berries and fruits were also added to the food available to the Sioux. When animals for food was scarce the tribe ate dried buffalo meat, called pemmican.What weapons did the Sioux use?The weapons used by the Sioux tribe included bows and arrows, stone ball clubs, jaw bone clubs, hatchet axe, spears, lances and knives. War Shields were used on horseback as a means of defence. The rifle was added to their weapons with the advent of the white invaders.Sioux ClothingThe women of the Sioux tribe were responsible for making the articles of clothing worn by the people. Most items were sewn from soft, tanned skins of deer (buckskin) and buffalo. A cape like yoke was formed from two pieces hung over the shoulders that fell loosely over the arms, taking the place of sleeves. Clothing was often decorated with paint, porcupine quills or beadwork. Sioux clothing for both men and women were

adorned with with beads in geometric designs and ornaments, especially necklaces and armbands.What clothes did the Sioux men wear?Many of the clothes worn by the men of the Sioux tribe are illustrated in the pictures on this site. The clothes worn by the Sioux men consisted of breechcloths, fringed buckskin tunics or shirts and leggings. Warm buffalo robes or cloaks were also worn to protect against the rain and the cold. The adult Sioux men also wore beaded, feathered war bonnets decorated with eagle feathers, ermine fur and beadwork as a symbol of honor and accomplishment. The Sioux wore a trailing bonnet with feathers trailing to the floor.What clothes did the Sioux women wear?The type of clothes worn by the women of the Sioux tribe were knee-length dresses and leggings. The women’s leggings covered the legs up to the knee and were held with garters. The women also wore the buffalo robes to keep warm and dry. The dresses of the Sioux women that were used for special occasions were elaborately decorated with beads and painted with signs and symbols that reflected their tribal identity and family values celebrating acts of valor by their men or sacrifices made for the well being of the family and tribe. Sioux women wore their hair in two, thick braids decorated with beads.What was the religion and beliefs of the Sioux tribe?The religion and beliefs of the Sioux tribe was based on Animism that encompassed the spiritual or religious idea that the universe and all natural objects animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains rocks etc have souls or spirits. In Lakota Sioux mythology, Chapa is the beaver spirit and symbolizes domesticity, labor and preparation. The Great Plains tribes such as the Sioux believed in Manitou, the Great Spirit.What were the rituals and ceremonies of the Sioux tribe?The rituals and ceremonies of the Sioux tribe and many other Great Plains Native Indians, included the Sweat Lodge ceremony, the Vision Quest and the Sun Dance Ceremony. The sacred, ceremonial pipe (called a Calumet), was ritually filled with tobacco was passed among participants at all sacred ceremonies of the Sioux. The Calumet, was often used to seal a peace treaty, hence the term 'Peace Pipe', but it was also used to offer prayers in religious ceremonies and in war councils. The Sioux name for the Great Spirit is 'Wakan Tanka' which translates as the Great Mystery.The Sioux people believe that every object was spirit, or "wakan."Who were the most famous leaders and chiefs of the Sioux tribe?The most famous leaders and chiefs of the Sioux tribe included: Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Rain in the Face, Chief Gall, Crazy Horse, Kicking Bear, American Horse, Black Elk, Chief Lone Horn, Chief Touch the Cloud and Chief Big Foot.