The Inuit

Location The Inuit occupy much of Northern Canada, and are comprised of many different groups: Labrador Inuit Quebec Inuit Baffin Island Inuit Igloolik- “there is an igloo here” Caribou Inuit Netsilik- “people of the place where there is seal” Copper Inuit Western Arctic Inuit http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit1.html

Location http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/native-people-arctic

Languages & Population The Inuit have many separate languages, however, all of them derive from one language: Inuit-Aleut. Some of the separate dialects include: Western Branch: Central Alaskan Yupik Pacific Gulf Yupik (Alaska) Siberian Yupik (Canada and Alaska) Population It is very difficult to estimate Inuit population pre-contact, because they were so isolated, and had very little contact with Europeans. Currenetly, there are 50,485 Inuit. That makes up about 4% of the total native population of 1,172,790. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/as-sa/97-558/p6-eng.cfm Eastern Branch: Inuktitut (in Canada) Inupiaq (in Alaska) Kalaallisut (in Greenland)

Economy Based on customs and traditions. For example, traditionally the economy was based on the changing of the seasons and which animals could be successfully hunted during those seasons. After a successful hunt, the hunters would share there hunted game with the community. Inuit parents have taught their children the survival skills needed to survive in the Arctic Circle's severe climate. The children are taught to fish, hunt, and make effective tools. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=795&type=educator

Political Organization The Inuit lived in smaller family groups with no real leader or Chief, besides the shaman were thought to have special abilities relating to supernatural powers. Loose alliances would occur between different families, forming larger groups. Disputes between two members of a tribe were mainly settled quietly among the families. http://ksuanth.wetpaint.com/page/Inuit+%2B+Politics

Inuit Rules All Inuits follow three rules: Maligait- refers to what has to be followed. Piqujait- refers to what has to be done. Tirigusuusiit- refers to what has to be avoided. http://ksuanth.wetpaint.com/page/Inuit+%2B+Politics

Diet Since very little vegetation could survive in the Arctic climate, the Inuit could not depend solely on plants for food. The Inuit were mainly hunters, and relied heavily on the animals of the Arctic as their main source of food. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit3.html

Hunted Animals

Housing The Inuits were always on the move for multiple reasons, therefore their housing was not to complex to build. They had multiple forms of housing: Summer Inuit Tent Igloo Inuit built tents out of driftwood which was covered by animal skin and held down by rocks. An igloo was a temporary, dome-shaped shelter made out of snow blocks. http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit2.html