Inuit: Difference between revisions
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'''Inuit''' ([[Inuktitut syllabics]], ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, singular '''''Inuk''''' / ᐃᓄᒃ<ref>[http://www.gov.nu.ca/Nunavut/English/font/ fonts required]</ref>) is a general term for a group of culturally similar [[indigenous people]]s inhabiting the [[Arctic]] regions of [[Alaska]], [[Greenland]], the [[Canada|Canadian]] territories of [[Northwest Territories]] and [[Nunavut]], the province of [[Quebec]] and the northern part of [[Labrador]]. Until fairly recent times, there has been a remarkable homogeneity in the culture throughout these areas, which have traditionally relied on fish, sea mammals, and land animals for food, heat, light, clothing, tools, and shelter. The Inuit language, [[Inuktitut]], is grouped under [[Eskimo-Aleut languages]], and is remarkable for being the only language of indigenous North American people with known linguistic relatives on another continent ([[Asia]]). | {{Image|A155826.jpg|right|300px|Qannguiannuk, sister of Panikpakuttuk, an Inuit woman of Pond Inlet (1931) (National Archives of Canada)}} | ||
'''Inuit''' ([[Inuktitut syllabics]], ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, singular '''''Inuk''''' / ᐃᓄᒃ<ref>[http://www.gov.nu.ca/Nunavut/English/font/ fonts required]</ref>) or '''Eskimo''' (but see below) is a general term for a group of culturally similar [[indigenous people]]s inhabiting the [[Arctic]] regions of [[Alaska (U.S. state)|Alaska]], [[Greenland]], the [[Canada|Canadian]] territories of [[Northwest Territories]] and [[Nunavut]], the province of [[Quebec]] and the northern part of [[Labrador]]. Until fairly recent times, there has been a remarkable homogeneity in the culture throughout these areas, which have traditionally relied on fish, sea mammals, and land animals for food, heat, light, clothing, tools, and shelter. The Inuit language, [[Inuktitut]], is grouped under [[Eskimo-Aleut languages]], and is remarkable for being the only language of indigenous North American people with known linguistic relatives on another continent ([[Asia]]). | |||
Canadian Inuit live primarily in the territory of [[Nunavut]], the [[Nunavik]] region in the northern part of [[Quebec]], and in the [[Nunatsiavut]] Inuit settlement region in [[Labrador]]. The [[Inuvialuit]] live primarily in the [[Mackenzie River]] delta, on [[Banks Island]], and in parts of [[Victoria Island]] in the [[Northwest Territories]]. There have been Inuit settlements in [[Yukon]], especially at [[Herschel Island]], but there are none at present. Alaskan [[Inupiaq]] live on the [[Alaska North Slope|North Slope]] of Alaska and the [[Seward Peninsula]]. | Canadian Inuit live primarily in the territory of [[Nunavut]], the [[Nunavik]] region in the northern part of [[Quebec]], and in the [[Nunatsiavut]] Inuit settlement region in [[Labrador]]. The [[Inuvialuit]] live primarily in the [[Mackenzie River]] delta, on [[Banks Island]], and in parts of [[Victoria Island]] in the [[Northwest Territories]]. There have been Inuit settlements in [[Yukon]], especially at [[Herschel Island]], but there are none at present. Alaskan [[Inupiaq]] live on the [[Alaska North Slope|North Slope]] of Alaska and the [[Seward Peninsula]]. | ||
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==Eskimo or Inuit?== | ==Eskimo or Inuit?== | ||
The [[English language|English]] word ''Eskimo'' is of uncertain origin, but most likely originates from an [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]]. Many Inuit consider ''Eskimo'' to be pejorative because it originated with non-Inuit and has been widely believed to mean "eater of raw meat." However, many linguists now | The [[English language|English]] word ''Eskimo'' is of uncertain origin, but most likely originates from an [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian language]]. Many Inuit consider ''Eskimo'' to be pejorative because it originated with non-Inuit and has been widely believed to mean "eater of raw meat." However, many linguists now feel the term was actually derived from an [[Ojibwa]] word ''ashkime'', meaning "to net snowshoes."<ref>http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifeskimo.shtml The alt.usage.english FAQ, referencing Goddard, ''Handbook of North American Indians''(Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1984), vol. 5, p. 5-7.</ref> | ||
The term ''Eskimo'' is still in common use in Alaska, where about half of the | The term ''Eskimo'' is still in common use in Alaska, where about half of the Eskimo population lives. It is now considered pejorative in Canada, where the preferred term is ''Inuit,'' which means "people" or "the people" in most [[Inuit language]]s. In the eastern Arctic of Canada, the language is called ''[[Inuktitut]]'' and in the "Western Arctic" it is called [[Inuvialuktun]], though other local designations may be used for both. The Inuit of Greenland regard "Eskimo" as a more neutral term, but more commonly refer to themselves as ''Greenlanders'' or, in their own language, ''Kalaallit'', and to their language as ''Greenlandic'' or ''Kalaallisut''. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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Latest revision as of 11:01, 2 September 2024
Inuit (Inuktitut syllabics, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, singular Inuk / ᐃᓄᒃ[1]) or Eskimo (but see below) is a general term for a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, the Canadian territories of Northwest Territories and Nunavut, the province of Quebec and the northern part of Labrador. Until fairly recent times, there has been a remarkable homogeneity in the culture throughout these areas, which have traditionally relied on fish, sea mammals, and land animals for food, heat, light, clothing, tools, and shelter. The Inuit language, Inuktitut, is grouped under Eskimo-Aleut languages, and is remarkable for being the only language of indigenous North American people with known linguistic relatives on another continent (Asia).
Canadian Inuit live primarily in the territory of Nunavut, the Nunavik region in the northern part of Quebec, and in the Nunatsiavut Inuit settlement region in Labrador. The Inuvialuit live primarily in the Mackenzie River delta, on Banks Island, and in parts of Victoria Island in the Northwest Territories. There have been Inuit settlements in Yukon, especially at Herschel Island, but there are none at present. Alaskan Inupiaq live on the North Slope of Alaska and the Seward Peninsula.
Eskimo or Inuit?
The English word Eskimo is of uncertain origin, but most likely originates from an Algonquian language. Many Inuit consider Eskimo to be pejorative because it originated with non-Inuit and has been widely believed to mean "eater of raw meat." However, many linguists now feel the term was actually derived from an Ojibwa word ashkime, meaning "to net snowshoes."[2]
The term Eskimo is still in common use in Alaska, where about half of the Eskimo population lives. It is now considered pejorative in Canada, where the preferred term is Inuit, which means "people" or "the people" in most Inuit languages. In the eastern Arctic of Canada, the language is called Inuktitut and in the "Western Arctic" it is called Inuvialuktun, though other local designations may be used for both. The Inuit of Greenland regard "Eskimo" as a more neutral term, but more commonly refer to themselves as Greenlanders or, in their own language, Kalaallit, and to their language as Greenlandic or Kalaallisut.
References
- ↑ fonts required
- ↑ http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifeskimo.shtml The alt.usage.english FAQ, referencing Goddard, Handbook of North American Indians(Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1984), vol. 5, p. 5-7.