What Is The Ethnic Composition Of The Eskimo People
The Eskimo people of the great state of Alaska are a group of indigenous, aborigional peoples with origins in Canada, Siberia, Greenland and the land mass now known as Alaska. The Eskimo’s live in tundrous areas and originally sustained their diets with fish, walrus, caribou, polar bears, birds and seals. The animals of the colder regions in which they live are still used today for food and clothing.
Often times you will hear the Eskimo people referred to as Inuits. Eskimo is more of a comprehensive term and includes indigenous people, in addition to Inuits, who reside in other areas, and not just in Alaska. Inuit is the preferred term in Canada and Greenland, and Eskimo has fallen out of favor there because native people consider it derogatory or uncomplimentary.
The Inuit Circumpolar Council is a United Nations recognized Non-governmental Oganization (NGO). The organization includes groups from Canada, Greenland, Alaska and some of the indigenous groups from Russia’s Siberia.
Each group maintains their sovereignty and claim themselves as distinct, and even practice their own languages. Eskimo’s have their own unique culture, and face challenges when it comes to travel, trade and providing for their people, even today in our modern society.