Inuit of the Far North By: Natalia Kabalan & Margarita Zambrano

Introduction This is a unique and special tribe located in the far north of the U.S. The Inuit people have populated the areas of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska for thousands of years. They were nomads, that changed homes in summer & winter. Today we will tell you more about this amazing and unique tribe. We hope you learn allot!

Location according to the 5 themes of geography . Located in the Far North of the United States, Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. .Border the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. .Cropining is not common: alot of movement . Used Kayaks and Umiaks to fish sea animals like whales, seal, and walrus. .Migrate according to seasons. On summer, migrate South and hunt land animals like caribou and gather berries and nuts. Live in a region with more than 3,500 miles.

LOCATION Sometimes, when Igloos start to melt, they have to migrate south and live in tents made from animal skin like seal. . Because lack of food, inuits are sometimes forced to eat raw meat or smoke it inside a fire in the Igloo. .Need to hunt allot sea mammals because there is no cropping. .They lit oil lamps with seal oil. .Only ways of transportation is by water using kayaks and umiaks, and on land; walking, snomobiles(some have), and dog sleds pulled by 6 or more Huskies.

Special Characteristics The summer months in the arctic are July and August. By the middle of September snow starts to fall again. Inuits cannot plant crops. That is why they have survived for thousands of years by hunting and gathering. They moved from place to place in kayaks called Umiaks made of walrus or seal skin. The Umiaks could hold up to 10 people. Population of 50,000(aprox.) Umiaks were also used to hunt in the summer. The Inuit made houses out of snow and ice called igloos.

Hunting in Summer and Spring The subarctic is one of the coldest regions in the world. Eccept for three months in the year, the land is completly frozen. By May and June the snow melts, and the Inuit people migrate in search of more food recources. The summer months are July and August. In summer, the temp doesn’t go above 50°F. In these two months there are herds of Caribou and Oxen as well as wild berries. The sea is full of whales, walruses and seals, and the salmon return to the rivers.

Hunting in Fall and Winter By the middle of September snow starts to fall again. In winter, temperetures can fall to 50° below zero. The Inuits hunted animals for food, fur and weapons. No parts of the animal were wasted. They hunted seals and whales by boat in fall, and by foot in winter.

Culture Some ceremonies of the Inuit celebrated were the Annual Ceremony of Rejuvenation, and a ceremony that took place after each kill, thanking the animal for giving his spirit to the hunter. The Inuit have many languages. Their main ones are English and Inuit culture changed completely when the Europeans arrived. About 80% of the Inuits fish, hunt, or can make traps. There are different kind of Inuits. The Netsiliki and Caribou of the Central Arctic. The Iglulik and Baffinland Inuit of the Eastern Arctic. Ungava Inuit of northern Quebec and the Labrador Inuit. the Inuvialuit and Copper Inuit of the western Arctic

How the settelment of the Europeans affected this tribe Europeans abused their food resources, causing many Inuit people to starve. Changed many aspects of their culture Forced them to move out of their land. Made them work very hard. Made them live on reservations Separated the families Made children go to school, and adults live in towns.

Immediate and long-term effects Long-term Immediate Many died of diseases such as Smallpox, Measles and Tuberculosis, carried by settlers and explorers. A lot of their land was taken away, causing fights. Lost their religious traits Europeans left them with little food. Families were separated They were forced to live on reservations. The Inuit population reduced.

Shaman Inuit people believe allot in spirits and have a very strong bond between the spirit world and the human world. They play a very important role in the community because there is said that bad spirits can take the peoples souls and the shaman has to take it away. They use allot herbs and chants in ceremonies. Some Inuits are now leaving their old religion and practicing Christianity. Shaman practices a kind of exorcism (to take out the evil spirits from inside the people) and use masks, special chants, and herbs during this ritual.

What the Europeans did as they setteld in the Americas Took Inuit land and started building. Sometimes to make forts on the shore where they hunt. Converted Inuit people into Christianity Made them abandon their culture and adapt to U.S. and Canadian ways of life. Made them work as slaves. Threatened, and killed many of them. Many who were not killed, died from diseases. Europeans left them with little food Separated the families

Conclusion This incredible tribe of Native Americans almost disappeared because of the Europeans. All their culture and most of their ways of life do not exist any more. The few Inuits that are still alive do not have the same traits as they did thousands of years ago and modern life has changed many of their ways of living. It is amazing how this tribe survived for thousands of year in the Arctic without cropping! We hope you enjoyed our presentation and learned a lot!

SOURCES 1.) "The Arctic Inuit in Olden Times." Mr. Donn. January 2006. 29 Oct 2008 <http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/arctic/inuit.html>. 2.) Miller, Gary. "Native Americans." SiteLogz. 2000-2001. 29 Oct 2008 <http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/reports3/inuit2.htm>. Carr, Karen. "Inuit History after 1500 AD." Science For Kids. Friday, Nov 10, 2006. Kidipede. 29 Oct 2008<http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/history/inuit.htm>. 3.)"Inuit mithology-Angakuit." Global Oneness. 23 Oct. 2008 <http://www.experiencefestival.com/inuit_mythology_-_angakuit>. 4.) Burland, Cottie. North American Indian Mythology. "Library of the World's Myths and Legends." {Revised by Marion Wood) New York. Peter Bedrick Books. 1965. pp. 19-20 5.)"Inuit mithology-Angakuit." Global Oneness. 24 Oct. 2008 <http://www.experiencefestival.com/inuit_mythology_-_angakuit>.

Checking for Understanding Where did the Inuits live? What was the role of the Shaman? Name 3 things the Europeans did to the Inuits. Say 4 things the Inuit people ate. What is an Umiak? What did the Inuits do every year? Name 5 sources of food. Name the 2 “houses” they lived in.