Inuit culture facts for kids
The Inuit are a group of Indigenous people who live in the cold Arctic and subarctic areas of North America. These regions include parts of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The Inuit are related to the Iñupiat people in northern Alaska and the Yupik people from Siberia and western Alaska. They are also related to the Aleut people who live in the Aleutian Islands. When we talk about Inuit culture, we usually mean the way of life in these areas.
The word "Eskimo" used to describe the Inuit and Yupik peoples. However, this word is not used much anymore because many people find it offensive.
In Canada, different groups of Inuit live in places like the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (northern Quebec), and Nunatsiavut (Labrador). These areas, except for one called NunatuKavut, are sometimes known as Inuit Nunangat.
The traditional Inuit way of life is perfectly suited for very cold weather. Their main skills for survival are hunting and trapping. They also know how to make warm fur clothing. Farming was never possible in the huge areas of tundra and icy coasts from Siberia to North America, including Greenland. Because of this, hunting became the most important part of Inuit culture. They used harpoons and bows and arrows to hunt animals of all sizes. Even today, in modern Inuit communities that were built only a few decades ago, you can still see how important hunting is. This hunting culture allowed the Inuit and their ancestors to live in the Arctic for 5,000 years.
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What Does the Name "Inuit" Mean?
Europeans in North America used to call the Inuit "Eskimos." However, the Inuit people consider this word to be disrespectful. One reason is a common belief that in Algonquian languages, it means "eaters of raw meat." Some Cree speakers suggest the original word might have been askamiciw, which means "he eats it raw."
The word Inuit is the name the people use for themselves. It means "the people." The singular form, meaning one person, is Inuk.
What is the Inuit Circumpolar Council?
The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) is a large international group that represents about 180,000 Inuit, Yupik, and Chukchi peoples. These people live in Alaska (United States), Canada, Greenland (Denmark), and Chukotka, Siberia (Russia).
The ICC first met in June 1977. In 1980, they decided to use the term "Inuit" instead of "Eskimo." The main goals of the ICC are to bring Inuit people together, protect their rights and interests around the world, and work to keep the Arctic environment safe. They also want to be active partners in the political, economic, and social growth of Arctic regions. In short, they aim to strengthen connections between Arctic peoples and promote their human, cultural, political, and environmental rights.
How Did Inuit Culture Develop?
Early History of the Inuit
Experts believe that the ancestors of the Inuit and related peoples came from eastern Siberia. They arrived in the Bering Sea area about 10,000 years ago.
The Inuit in North America, including Greenland, are descendants of the Thule people. The Thule people appeared in western Alaska around 1000 CE. They had separated from the related Aleut group about 4,000 years ago. They then spread eastward across the Arctic. They replaced the Dorset culture (which existed from 500 BCE to between 1000 and 1500 CE). The Dorset people are called the Tuniit in Inuktitut.
The first Inuit group, known as Paleo-Eskimos, crossed the Bering Strait around 3000 BCE. They likely crossed on winter ice. This was long after the ancestors of North American Indians had migrated. Archeological finds show that Paleo-Eskimos moved to the northern Canadian Arctic in 2300 BCE. This move was probably due to a change in climate. From there, they slowly followed animal herds across the Arctic to Greenland. They then spread out into different nomadic tribes.
The Pre-Dorset culture (around 3200 to 850 BCE) began when Paleo-Eskimos settled on the islands of the Canadian Arctic and northern Greenland. These cultures are named after Cape Dorset on Baffin Island. Early Paleo-Eskimos faced more challenges in the high Arctic winters than later groups. They lacked technologies like boats, harpoon tips, dog sleds, and warm houses. They mostly hunted muskoxen and caribou with bows and arrows. They also fished with barbed tools. Groups near the coast hunted seals, walruses, and small whales. They threw harpoons from the shore or from sea ice.
Important Periods in Inuit History
- Period I (9000 – 5000 BCE): This time included the Paleo-Arctic tradition in Alaska and Yukon, and the Anangula Tradition.
- Period II (5000 – c. 2000 BCE): This period saw the Ocean Bay I and Northern Archaic traditions in the Western Arctic.
- Period III (c. 2000 – 1000 BCE):
* The Arctic small tool tradition spread eastward from Alaska. * The Independence I culture lived in Northern Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. They built homes with stone hearths. * The Saqqaq culture developed in Greenland. Their settlements were centered near Disko Bay.
- Period IV (1000 BCE-1000 CE):
* In the Western Arctic, cultures like Kachemak and Norton developed. The Ipiutak culture in northern Alaska were early ancestors of the Thule people. * In the Eastern Arctic, the Independence II culture lived in northern Greenland. Their tools were more advanced. * The Dorset culture (500 BCE-1000 CE) made big technological and cultural steps. They are likely the Tuniit from Inuit stories, described as strong giants.
* The Dorset people likely invented the igloo. They also used stone and grass to build winter homes, which were early versions of the qarmaqs. They were the first to carve seal-oil lamps (qulliq) from soapstone.
* Dorset art often showed animal features and spirit lines, suggesting a connection to shamanistic beliefs.
- Period V (1000 CE-present):
* The Thule culture (1000-1800 CE) emerged. They developed new ways to hunt and fish.
* They built boats like the kayak (qajag) for hunters and the umiak for groups of women. They also used new spears and harpoons. These tools helped them hunt whales, which provided food, materials, and oil for heating. * The Thule also developed dog sleds and igloos with tunnels for easier travel and warmer homes. * Around 1000 CE, a warmer climate in North America led to more land being available in the Arctic. This caused the Thule people to migrate from Alaska into northern Canada and Greenland. * The Thule were the direct ancestors of today's Inuit. They built houses from whale jawbones and ribs, covered with animal hides and sod.
* Thule art was mostly practical and decorative, unlike the more spiritual Dorset art. They made small carvings of figures and animals.
* They also built many Inuksuit, which are piled-stone landmarks. Some of these are impressive works of art.
How Did Inuit Life Change Over Time?
- Transitional Phase (1300–19th century): A cooling climate, known as the "Little Ice Age" (1550-1880), made life harder. Many areas became empty due to migration or starvation. Only communities in warmer regions, like southern Baffin Island and Greenland, kept their traditional way of life.
- Historical Period (from 1800): The 19th century is seen as the start of "Inuit culture" as we know it. Life became tougher than for their ancestors. Art and carving became less common. The colder climate meant less game, forcing Inuit to move more often. They built temporary winter homes called qarmaqs and improved igloo building.
- Contact with Europeans: Early contacts with Vikings, explorers, and whalers had a smaller impact on Canadian Inuit. However, these contacts often brought diseases like smallpox, which were deadly for many Inuit.
* Later, traders, missionaries, and Canadian government officials settled in the region. This greatly changed Inuit life. In 1903, Canada set up its first police stations. * In the early 20th century, the Hudson's Bay Company expanded trade into the Arctic. Inuit began hunting animals not just for food and clothing, but to trade for European goods. Fox fur was very popular. This trade made Inuit dependent on outside goods like weapons, ammunition, tobacco, and flour. This changed their traditional self-sufficient way of life.
- Mid-20th Century Changes: After World War II, the Arctic became important for Cold War defense. Military and radar stations were built, bringing jobs and new buildings. However, this led to a sudden move to towns, which was hard for many communities. Traditional ways of life were lost.
* Problems like polio and tuberculosis also affected Inuit communities. Many had to go to hospitals in the south. * The Canadian government started to take more control over the Arctic. In the 1950s, they created a department for Indigenous affairs. They offered social benefits and education programs. * Sometimes, the Canadian government moved Inuit families from their traditional hunting grounds to new areas. This was done to show Canada's control over the land.
What Were Traditional Inuit Customs?
Family Life and Roles
Until the mid-20th century, when Inuit moved from scattered camps to settlements, men and women had different roles. Men were responsible for hunting, fishing, and building homes like igloos and tents. Women mainly took care of the family, children, preparing food, cleaning furs, and sewing clothes. They also kept the fire going in the qulliq (oil lamp).
However, these roles were not always strict. Men needed to know how to sew for clothing repairs, and women needed to know how to hunt and help build igloos.
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When Inuit moved to settlements in the 1950s, these roles changed a lot. Women started working in new jobs like healthcare and local government. They also earned money from Inuit art. Today, the division of tasks between Inuit men and women is much like in other parts of Canada. For example, Nellie Cournoyea, an Inuk woman, was the first female premier of the Northwest Territories.
Birth and Newborns
Traditionally, young Inuit women were encouraged to have children after marriage, around age 15. Once pregnant, a woman would tell her mother, husband, and community. This was important because her status required special care to ensure the health of the mother, baby, and camp. To prevent problems, the husband and community made sure the woman was not stressed or exhausted.
Pregnant women followed traditional rules called pittailiniq from elders. These rules guided their behavior to prevent problems and ensure a healthy baby. For example, women were encouraged to stay active during pregnancy. They also massaged their stomachs so the baby wouldn't "stick" to the uterus.
There were also pittailiniq about diet. Pregnant women were told not to eat raw meat, only boiled or cooked meat. The best pieces of meat were always saved for the pregnant woman. These rules showed how much importance was placed on the mother's diet affecting the baby's appearance.
For birth, women were not taught how to prepare beforehand. They trusted their midwife and other helpers. Birth ideally happened with an assistant and midwife. However, due to hunting, many births happened while traveling or at hunting camps. In these cases, men might help, or the woman might give birth alone.
A midwife (Kisuliuq, Sanariak) was a respected woman who learned her skills by helping at births from a young age. Birth was a time of celebration. When a woman started contractions, the midwife would gather other women to help. Women were often expected to continue daily chores until late in labor. The midwife handled most of the birth, but the woman was active, following her body's cues for pushing and resting.
After birth, women breastfed immediately, often for two years or longer.
The birth of a newborn was a big celebration. Everyone, including children, would shake the baby's hand to welcome them. A special person, often the midwife, would determine the baby's gender. This person became the baby's sanaji (for a boy) or arnaliaq (for a girl) and had a lifelong role in the child's life. This person also cut the umbilical cord, provided first clothes, named the child (tuqurausiq), and blessed them.
The tuqurausiq was a very important naming practice. It linked the child to a recently deceased relative or community member. Inuit believed the baby took on the soul or spirit of that person. The child would then be called by the name of their namesake and given the same respect. Children today are still named for family members, but sometimes with English names.
In the 1970s and 1980s, almost all pregnant Inuit women were flown to southern hospitals to give birth. This was often more than 1,000 miles away. This practice was so common that Inuit culture adapted. To announce a newborn, many say "the newborn has arrived" instead of "the baby is born." When the baby arrives home weeks later, people shake its hand to welcome it.
Today, about half of Inuit women are still flown south for delivery. This costs a lot of money for healthcare. Many Inuit women feel that children born outside their homeland are not truly Inuit. Some communities now have birthing centers. For example, Cambridge Bay has a center for low-risk births.
Death and Burial Customs
When Inuit lived in camps or as nomads, they did not have special burial sites. Women would wash the body of the deceased and braid their hair. Then, they wrapped the body in a caribou hide or wool blanket. They laid it far out in the tundra, face up. They stacked stones on top to protect the body from animals. You can still find scattered human bones in the tundra, showing how animals sometimes got to the bodies.
Similar customs have been found for centuries. For example, Qilakitsoq mummies from 500 years ago show that the Thule people, ancestors of the Inuit, wrapped and protected their dead in the same way.
The Inuit believed the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) were signals from the dead or spirits. Some thought whistling at the lights would bring them down to earth. In pre-missionary times, it was common to name a newborn after a recently deceased relative. This way, ancestors could experience a new life through the child. This custom continues today, even though many Inuit are now Christian.
Since moving to settlements, the dead are buried in cemeteries. Due to the frozen permafrost, graves are not deep and are covered with rocks. Many graves belong to children, victims of accidents or natural disasters. Sometimes, bodies that die in winter are kept in wooden huts outside town until the warmer season allows burial.
What Challenges Do Inuit Face Today?
The big changes in their way of life have made it hard for many Inuit to keep their identity and history.
Today, the rate of infant deaths is still high, about four times higher than in the rest of Canada. The average lifespan is also shorter, about 13 years less. However, the Inuit population has grown a lot since the 1960s. In 2016, there were over 65,025 Inuit in Canada, living in about 70 settlements.
Modern technology quickly replaced old methods. Firearms replaced harpoons, and snowmobiles replaced dog sleds. ATVs are also common for transportation.
Inuit have become consumers. They earn money from fishing, hunting, trapping, and making artwork. Many also work for wages, but often need government support. Government support is often their only income. The number of people receiving support is much higher than the Canadian average. Also, many Inuit work in public service. Only a few areas still practice traditional hunting and fishing methods in their original form.
Adjusting to Modern Life
Adjusting to a capitalist way of thinking has been a big challenge. In the past, Inuit were independent. Now, they are tied to a money system. This has created new behaviors that sometimes strain family ties. It has been hard for Inuit to adjust to new ways of living, especially in towns organized by Canadian rules. Many still struggle with these changes.
The spread of Christianity by the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches also brought big cultural changes. While the Arctic is mostly Christian now, some parts of Shamanism still exist alongside Christian beliefs.
Young people find it easier to adjust to modern life. They have new opportunities but also face problems from "TV culture." School became mandatory in the 1950s, replacing the traditional way of learning from parents without reading or writing. Some Inuit became teachers and clergy. Today, basic education is available in almost all settlements. In Nunavut, the Inuit language (Inuinnaqtun or Inuktitut) is used for the first three school years. Many schools also have "elders" who teach traditional knowledge (Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit) about culture and customs. However, many students still drop out.
As part of Canada's assimilation policy, many Inuit children were sent to residential schools. Children were taken from their homes and sent to schools where they stayed for the whole school year. They were not allowed to speak their native language. This caused problems when they returned home, as they struggled to communicate and had lost traditional skills.
In the 1970s, schools were built in communities, but most only went up to grade 7 or 8. This meant leaving home for high school, which was hard for many. Today, all Inuit communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut offer schooling up to grade 12. This has increased graduation rates, but they are still lower than in the rest of Canada. Colleges like Aurora College and Arctic College offer programs, including teacher training and law.
There are many efforts to help Inuit build their own future and remember their values. It is important to define new roles for men and women. In the past, men were responsible for family survival, while women cared for the young. Now, both often have new tasks. Sometimes, women become the main earners while men are unemployed.
Cooperatives: A Path to Success
Many hopes were placed on establishing cooperatives, now called Arctic Co-operatives Limited. These groups aimed to help Inuit learn how to create value and become self-sufficient while keeping their traditional culture. These cooperatives, often managed by Qallunaat (non-Inuit), have been very successful. They have connected economic thinking with traditional activities.
The cooperatives work in many areas. They provide goods and services like oil, gas, and building materials. They run supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants. They also organize tourism. Regionally, they are involved in fur trade, fishing, and producing down and feathers.
In culture, cooperatives have strongly supported Inuit artistic skills. The creation and trade of Inuit art, like sculptures from serpentine, soapstone, and marble, and later graphics and tapestry, have been very successful both economically and culturally.
Over the past 50 years, this art branch has become very important for the Inuit economy. It brings in more money than hunting products like antlers, fur, or ivory. However, overproduction is becoming a problem.
Current Developments
Over 5,000 years, Inuit groups grew apart. But after World War II, as other nations expanded into the Arctic, Inuit realized they needed to unite to keep their cultural identity. This led to the "Pan-Eskimo Movement." The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) was founded in 1977 to support this movement.
While preserving old cultural values, Inuit also want modern progress. They are concerned about environmental damage from resource use, but they also want a future with Western standards. They have learned that they can better influence their lives by working together regionally.
Canadian Inuit, like other Indigenous peoples (First Nations and Métis people), demanded their own territory and government. In 1962, Inuit got the right to vote in federal elections. In 1979, Peter Ittinuar became the first Inuk elected to Parliament. In 1976, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami organization asked for a separate territory in northeast Canada.
After more than 15 years of talks, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was reached. On April 1, 1999, northern Canada was divided into three territories: Yukon, Nunavut, and the remaining Northwest Territories. Nunavut is controlled by the Canadian federal government but has increasing self-rule. Inuit have strong local control rights and hold important administrative jobs. Inuktitut is an official government language, along with English and French.
It is very important for Nunavut's government to increase its economy. Hunting, trapping, and fishing are mainly for survival and do not bring in enough money. Also, trade in products like seal furs or narwhal ivory faces international rules. Income from art helps, but it is not enough for large families. Tourism growth is also limited.
The main challenge for Nunavut's leaders is to balance tradition with modern life. The success of Nunavut's self-determination depends on training enough Inuit leaders for the future.
Land Claims and Titles
An important part of Canadian Arctic policy is settling Inuit land claims. As the Canadian Arctic's resources are developed, there are more conflicts over land ownership. Inuit claim large areas they have lived on for centuries.
In 1984, an agreement was reached for the Inuvialuit (Inuit in the western Arctic). This agreement gave 91,000 square kilometers of land to 2,500 Inuvialuit. It also provided money, funds for social improvements, hunting rights, and more influence on wildlife and environmental protection.
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, signed in 1993, is the most complete agreement in Canada. It gives about 17,500 Inuit 350,000 square kilometers of land, money, a share of profits from mineral resources, hunting rights, and a greater say in land and environment issues.
Land claims for Inuit groups in northern Quebec were also settled. Nunatsiavut, home to about 3,800 Inuit in Labrador, became an Inuit self-governing region on June 23, 2000. Nain is its administrative center.
What is Traditional Inuit Culture Like?
The Inuit value self-determination. The governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Nunatsiavut do not have political parties. Instead, they operate as consensus governments, where decisions are made by agreement.
Keeping Traditions Alive
The government of Nunavut sees preserving Inuit tradition and culture as a key task. They are working hard to record stories from elders about life before moving to settlements. This is important because the number of elders with this knowledge is decreasing. The festival leading up to the new year is Quviasukvik, which is also their traditional new year and is held on Christmas.
Literature and Storytelling
A special part of Inuit culture is their myths and legends. These were passed down by word of mouth because the Inuit did not have a written language. Storytelling was like literature for them. Sharing stories brought families closer and connected the past with the present.
Today, there are few Inuit authors in the traditional sense. Writers mostly create reports, summaries, and essays about traditional life or their own experiences. Sometimes they write poems or songs. Some notable Inuit writers include Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, Markoosie Patsauq, and Tanya Tagaq. Other well-known authors are Piita Irniq, Alootook Ipellie, Michael Kusugak, and Zebedee Nungak.
Music and Art
The Inuit did not have a very distinct music tradition. They had "Aya-Yait" songs, used to pass down experiences. These were simple songs with the refrain "aya-ya." Traditional "throat singing" and ritual drum dances were for entertainment and religious customs.
Inuit first heard European melodies from whalers. They also saw instruments like the fiddle and accordion, which are still popular today. They also learned the square dance from whalers. In the last 20 years, pop music has become popular in the Arctic. Famous Inuit singers include Susan Aglukark, Tanya Tagaq, Charlie Panigoniak, and Lucie Idlout.
Contemporary Inuit art and handicrafts became important in the late 1950s. Soapstone sculptures, drawings, hangings, tapestries, clothing, ceramics, and dolls now provide a living for many Inuit artists.
Movies About the Inuit
- Nanook of the North (1922)
- Eskimo (1932–33)
- Trial at Fortitude Bay (1994)
- Kikkik (2000)
- Atanarjuat – The Fast Runner (2001)
- Brother Bear (2003)
- Minik (2006)
- The Necessities of Life (2008)
- White Dawn
Images for kids
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A hunting place of the Saqqaq culture on Disko Bay, Greenland
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Camp Ikirasaq (Southern Baffin Island), abandoned in the late 1940s
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Fishing for Arctic char
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A traditional dog sled (qamutik), now mostly replaced by snowmobiles
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Life on the land, following tradition (Camp Najutaqtujuq, North Baffin Island)
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A drum dancer in a camp near Meliadine River
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Square Dance from the time of Scottish whalers, still danced by Inuit today
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A Day Care Centre in Kinngait (Cape Dorset)
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Distribution of frozen, fermented walrus meat
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A modern Inuit yacht in a bay of Qikiqtarjuaq, used for tours to remote fjords and glaciers
