WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

January 5, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 1

INUIT LESSONS

January begins again with a frigid blast across much of the nation, making it the ideal time to learn a bit about Inuit, often referred to as Eskimos. [2] The first humans believed to have crossed the Bering Strait more than 15,000 years ago were known as the Paleo-Eskimos, making their way to Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland. The Neo-Eskimo or Thule came thousands of years later, bringing items like kayaks and dog sleds. Inuit has become the preferred reference as Eskimo was the colonial name given by non-indigenous people. Eskimo is believed to have meant either “snow-shoe netter” or “meat eater.”

Known as semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers before 19^th and 20th-century colonialism, there are approximately 180,000 Inuit today. Many remain in cold and remote areas with little access to fruits and vegetables. Their diet consists primarily of meat and fish, with animal skins often used for clothing and boots. Igloo housing is less common, having been replaced by semisubterrearean houses built of stone or sod over wood. Igloos are primarily used today for temporary shelter while hunting. Inuit often rely on dogsleds for transportation, although some have transitioned to more traditional jobs and use snowmobiles or four-wheelers for work and hunting.

Inuit culture is based on respect and care for others. They believe in animism, the view that all things, including humans, animals, plants, and water have a spiritual essence and are interconnected. The inuksuk, meaning “to act in the capacity of a human,” is made of piled stones and boulders and is often seen along the Arctic landscape. An inuksuk is a form of human communication, including a navigational aid or a message center to indicate where food is stored.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Make an art project using the colors or stone objects found in Inuit art. Blue and gold symbolize the land, sea, and sky, and white and blue symbolize snow and ice.  If art projects are not your thing, explore articles regarding Inuit Art at www.inuitartfoundation.org. 

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources; Alaskan Native Language Center, www.uaf.edu/inuitoreskimo; Intuit Art Gallery, Vancouver, BCNorman Hallendy, Inuksuk, The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2013; The Inuit and their Hunting Habits, wocomoHISTORY, YouTube, Oct. 4, 2018; The Last Ice, National Geographic Documentary Film, 2020. Viewer discretion is advised regarding the video and documentary.