INUIT
Arctic Regions
DID YOU KNOW?
Igloo's can be a toasty 15C inside when it's a freezing -45C outside!
Once inside the people that gather in them generate enough heat to act as a small furnace which melts and fuses the ice blocks together to make it even stronger.
Location
The Inuit culture spreads far across the Arctic regions all the way from Alaska to Greenland. In the early 1990's the Inuit people were granted a self-governing land called Nunavut in North West Canada. They now own much of the Canadian Arctic.
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How they live
In the past temporary shelters were built as they were semi-nomadic people. These were often made using driftwood but later developed to be made from blocks of snow and ice, which are called igloo's. These were more practical and could be built in a matter of hours.
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In more modern times the majority of communities live in purpose built and permanent homes.
Religion and culture
The Inuit culture centres around an Animist belief. This means they believe in the sacred nature of animals and when people die they are represented as spirits.
Only Shaman have the ability to communicate with these sprits which becomes an important part of traditions and celebrations.
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Food and drink
The snowy, icy tundras of the Arctic are not ideal conditions for plants to grow so Inuit diet is nearly entirely made up of meat.
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Hunting is a big tradition and practice with animals such as Caribou (deer), Seals and even Whales being killed and eaten. Inuit nomadic life was usually centred around hunting Whales as it could be be stored and feed communities for many many months.
