The inuit people
this blog is talk about the inuit people and the Traditional Inuit way of life was influenced by the harsh climate and stark landscapes of the Arctic tundra – from beliefs inspired by stories of the aurora to practicalities like homes made of snow. Inuit invented tools, gear, and methods to help them survive in this environment. Read on to learn more about traditional Inuit ways of life, and how Inuit culture has been changed over the past century.
History of The inuit people
The history of those that have occupied Nunavik over the centuries is a reflection of the populations which have inhabited the entire Arctic from Siberia in the west to Greenland in the east. Roughly 4500 years ago, a slow migration began from Alaska. Groups, known today as paleo-eskimo, took 500 years to arrive in Nunavik, occupying the east coast of Hudson Bay as well as different areas of Ungava Bay. Over a period of almost 1500 years, the coasts of the region ensured their survival. Then for unknown reasons approximately 2500 years ago, this population disappeared from Nunavik.
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| the inuit house (homes) |
This picture shows several Inuit constructing an igloo with blocks of snow. Traditionally, Inuit lived in igloos during the coldest months and tent like huts during the warmer months.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, Photograph by Frank E. Kleinschmidt
The inuit Homes
Inuit Homes In the tundra, where Inuit communities are found, there are not many building materials. No trees grow in the tundra so houses can not be made from wood unless it is transported from elsewhere. However, during a large part of the year, the cold part, there is a lot of snow in the tundra. And it turns out that snow can be a very good construction material. In the winter, Inuit lived in round houses made from blocks of snow called "igloos". In the summer, when the snow melted, Inuit lived in tent-like huts made of animal skins stretched over a frame. Although most Inuit people today live in the same community year-round, and live in homes built of other construction materials that have to be imported, in the past Inuit would migrate between a summer and winter camp which was shared by several families.
