Table of Contents
What challenges did the Eskimos face?
Among the problems the Inuit face is permafrost melting, which has destroyed the foundations of houses, eroded the seashore and forced people to move inland. Airport runways, roads and harbours are also collapsing.
What is the Eskimos economic system?
The traditional economy of many Inuit groups of the Arctic was based on the hunting of sea mammals, including whales, seals, and walruses. They also fish and hunt other types of animals, and gather food from their environment. Yes, the family is the base of the Inuit’s social organization.
Why did life change for the Eskimos in the 1800s?
It was during the 1800’s when the whaling industry moved to the Arctic, that the Inuit lifestyle began to change. The whalers, and later on merchants and fur traders, brought new tools and technology to the Inuit, as well as devastating diseases which wiped out entire camps.
When did the turn of the Arctic and interior Eskimo occur?
The turn of the Arctic and Interior Eskimo and Interior Indians came when Alaska shifted from its colonial to its military period.
How did the arrival of the Europeans affect the Inuit?
The European arrival tremendously damaged the Inuit way of life, causing mass deaths through new diseases introduced by whalers and explorers, and enormous social disruptions caused by the distorting effect of their material wealth.
Whether food was plentiful or scarce, it was shared among the people. This sharing created a bond between people that helped insure survival. The Yupik language has words for being a poor hunter, for being hungry, sick or cold.
What did the Europeans do in the Arctic?
European contact. Inuit peoples were nomadic hunters and fishers. In the Arctic, Europeans fished and whaled, but the initial effects of these activities upon the Inuit are difficult to measure. For example, stranded or lost ships were a fortunate find in the territory of an Inuit tribe.