THE
CANADIAN ESKIMOES
The
word “Eskimo”, is a word that in Canada is not usually being used
because it is contemptuous, so this etnia is called by his name,
inuit.
The
inuit it is a common name for the different Eskimo peoples who live
in the Arctic regions of America, like Alaska or Canada, and in
Greenland.
THE
ORIGIN
The
inuit have his origins in Siberia, to the North-East of Asia. His
forbears esquimo-aleutianos crossed Bering's strait and settled
themselves also in North America. About the year 1000 there arose in
Alaska the culture Thule, origin of the people inuit, that spread
rapidly to the east, along the region of the Arctic.
THE
INUITS.
They
possess physical characteristics that help to survive them in the
cold. The eyelashes are weighed, to protect the eyes of the radiance
of the Sun that is reflected in the ice, his body is generally low
and robust to retain more hot.
The
inuit live in the north of Canada, Alaska and in Greenland. It is
calculated that approximately 100.000 persons live in this region.
They develop a nomadic life, following the migrations of the animals
that they hunt, between which they can emphasize the caribous, bears,
whales and seals. Of these and other animals they take advantage of
all the possible parts to feed, to wrap up itself, to construct
housings and tools to hunt. The hunt of seals and the fishing they
allow them to obtain food even in the raw winter of the Arctic.
The
sled dog has an important paper in the life inuit. On the snow or the
ice, an equipment of dogs drag the qamutik, a made bobsled of wood,
bones of animals, beards of the mouth of a whale and even frozen
fish.
The
inuit are organized in familiar groups and every member has a
specific task assigned.
IGLOO.
An
igloo or house of snow is a refuge constructed with blocks of snow
that generally possesses the form of dome. The iglooes associate
commonly with the Eskimoes, who have used them as temporary refuge
for the hunters during the winter. His easy and cheap construction
turns it into an alternative of housing for the inhabitants of frozen
zones, where another type of structures turns out to be very onerous;
on the other hand, it gives the necessary coat and the safety. It can
be a permanent housing if the size and the maintenance turn out to be
suitable. Diverse models and forms exist, but the most common is the
dome.
