Inuit
The harsh climate was no challenge for the Inuit people of the Northern Canadian Tundra. After they built their own tools and traditions, living in severe temperatures had become their lifestyle. They changed drastically through time with many inventions, like the kayak which helped hunting for marine animals. Even today, the Inuit people of the tundra still practice ancient traditions, which is what makes the residents of the arctic tundra so unique.
History
Spreading across the northern parts of Canada, the Inuit population is huge. In 1898, Nunavut was classified as a separate province. Focused in Nunavut, (their homeland is known as Inuit Nunangat) the Inuit people range from Alaska to the Labrador Coast. There are 8 main ethnic groups, each with different beliefs. Labradormiut, Nunavimmiut, Baffin Island, Iglulingmuit, Kivallirmiut, Netsilingmiut, Inuinnait and Invialuit or Western Arctic Inuit.
Language
Inuktitut, which means "in the way of the Inuk" , is the language of the Inuit people in Canada. Inuktitut is a first language for approximately 27 000 in Canada, it is also the second most common aboriginal language. Inuktitut is most commonly spoken in the province of Nunavut as well as being the province's official language.
The language can be written in many different ways, varying by region and dialect. To the right is an example of the writting system of Inuktitut. The additional characters with a dot mean it should be said with a long vowel. |
Hunting
The Inuits had a particularily unique hunting technuique, which may be the reason they were so effective. Even throughout the dead winter with severe weather conditions, the Inuits hunted year-round. As the seasons changed, so did the hunting. In the winter months, the fish that were out on the ice were targeted. They had also invented the kayak, which allowed them to row out into the water once it was clear of ice. On days like these, they would search for seals, walruses, beluga whales, and narwhals. Land hunting consisted of using parts of animals that were previously killed as tools, like turning the tusks, bones, or teeth into weapons. During summer months, caribou, seals, and walruses were abundant. Once they killed their prey, they had a few options of what to do with the supply. They could use it as food, take the fur and make clothes or blankets, use the bones and teeth as weapons, feed it to the dogs, or dry it out to be preserved. Inuit hunting was unique in that it was dependant on the weather and seasons, which makes the Inuits particularily different than the residents of other biomes.
|
Traditions/Lifestyle
Traditions of the Inuit people have been passed down over many generations. These traditions are held to a very high standard and are a big part of the Inuit culture and lifestyle. Although the lifestyle of the Inuit people has changed over time, which is to be expected because of new availible materials, the traditions have remained the same. Traditional stortelling, mythology, and dancing are all important parts of the Inuit culture. These traditions teach the children, are used for celebrations, and are used to pass the time on a daily basis. Family and commuity are also big parts of the Inuit people's lifestyle. Family bonds are held close to the heart and taken very seriously. The communties are like one big family, made up of smaller ones. The Inuktitut language is still used today and can be heard on radios and tv shows in the Arctic.
The lifestyle of the Inuit people is very simple and true to the environment they live in. Their way of life revolves around the landscape and climate. The Inuit adapted to living in the harsh conditions when they first settled and the techniques have been passed down. These techniques were then able to be altered and created into the modern day lifestlye.
The lifestyle of the Inuit people is very simple and true to the environment they live in. Their way of life revolves around the landscape and climate. The Inuit adapted to living in the harsh conditions when they first settled and the techniques have been passed down. These techniques were then able to be altered and created into the modern day lifestlye.