Arctic and Sub-Arctic

Geography Arctic Arctic Northern North America from end of treeline Northern North America from end of treeline Tundra and Permafrost Tundra and Permafrost Low vegetation Low vegetation Sub-Arctic Sub-Arctic Mostly boreal, coniferous forest, some taiga Mostly boreal, coniferous forest, some taiga Severe winters, very mild summers Severe winters, very mild summers High vegetation (although much not edible) High vegetation (although much not edible)

Subsistence Arctic Arctic Many marine resources (seal, whale, fish, walrus) Many marine resources (seal, whale, fish, walrus) Fewer land resources (caribou seasonally, birds, hares, etc.) Fewer land resources (caribou seasonally, birds, hares, etc.) Sub-Arctic Sub-Arctic Fur-bearing mammals, fish, birds Fur-bearing mammals, fish, birds Some berries and nuts Some berries and nuts Some trade with more southerly cultivators Some trade with more southerly cultivators

Subsistence Both areas are hunter/gatherer with low population density Both areas are hunter/gatherer with low population density Mobility common Mobility common Arctic – seasonal based on ice pack Arctic – seasonal based on ice pack Sub-Arctic seasonal based on resource availability Sub-Arctic seasonal based on resource availability Coastal groups remain more sedentary Coastal groups remain more sedentary High meat-based diet High meat-based diet Scurvy was a problem (lack of C vitamin) Scurvy was a problem (lack of C vitamin) Solved through remedies Solved through remedies

Technology Both areas utilize many specialized items of skin, bone, antler, and stone (rarer), and wood (less common in arctic) Both areas utilize many specialized items of skin, bone, antler, and stone (rarer), and wood (less common in arctic) Snowshoes Snowshoes Sleds Sleds Toboggans Toboggans Snow goggles Snow goggles Kayaks and Umiaks Kayaks and Umiaks Several Housing types Several Housing types More! More!

Social Organization Bands usually Bands usually Seasonal aggregates Seasonal aggregates Inuit are bilateral, sub-arctic groups vary matrilineal (western) and patrilineal (eastern) Inuit are bilateral, sub-arctic groups vary matrilineal (western) and patrilineal (eastern) No clans No clans Simple marriage rules (no bloodline) Simple marriage rules (no bloodline) Social rules to maintain harmony without law Social rules to maintain harmony without law E.g. Song duels, seal partners, and wifesharing E.g. Song duels, seal partners, and wifesharing

Beliefs Animistic and Animatistic Animistic and Animatistic Lack of complex religious organization Lack of complex religious organization Anyone could be a shaman Anyone could be a shaman Centered on healing and hunting magic Centered on healing and hunting magic Inuit life FULL of taboos Inuit life FULL of taboos Food prep, pregnancy, seal division, etc. Food prep, pregnancy, seal division, etc. Justification for practice through myth Justification for practice through myth Sedna Sedna Wendigo, cannibals, and the ethnic psychosis Wendigo, cannibals, and the ethnic psychosis

Languages Arctic Arctic Paleo-Siberian in origin, Inuit-Aleut family. Paleo-Siberian in origin, Inuit-Aleut family. Spoken across the arctic Spoken across the arctic Sub-Arctic Sub-Arctic Dine in the northwest (Athabascan family) Dine in the northwest (Athabascan family) Amerindian in the East (Algonkian) Amerindian in the East (Algonkian) Many words of today hail from Algonkian Many words of today hail from Algonkian Tomahawk, toboggan, succotash, etc. Tomahawk, toboggan, succotash, etc.

Additional Issues Aleutian Complexity and Downfall Aleutian Complexity and Downfall Coming of fur trade Coming of fur trade Maintenance of tradition Maintenance of tradition