Background

The Inuit are an indigenous tribe who live in harsh snowy climates. They mainly speak the Inuktitut language, which is common in the eastern Arctic. They are sometimes called “eskimos”, although some Inuit find this offensive. The Inuit get around by using sleds made from animal bones and skins pulled by dogs. They also use small boats for hunting and traveling over the water. Because few plants grow in the Arctic, the Inuit diet consists of mostly meat from whales, walruses, seals, and fish. Essential parts of Inuit culture are storytelling, mythology, and dancing.

The Inuit had little contact with anyone else prior to the 1940s. Traders would pass through on explorations or hunting trips, but few ever expressed interest in settling in the frozen Arctic. The invention of airplanes made it easier to cross the Arctic, and during the Cold War, the Arctic became an important location where enemy countries were able to be closer to each other. This led to the development of airbases, settlements, and other military bases to keep an eye on enemy countries. With these developments came schools and health care centers that changed Inuit life. Inuit children were forced to attend schools that promoted other cultural traditions. With more health care, the Inuit were able to live longer, and thus the population began to grow. Although they are no longer uncontacted, the Inuit still live relatively independently. 

Resources:

Gardiner, Lisa

2007 Inuit Culture, Traditions, and History. Electronic Document,                                                     http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/polar/inuit_culture.html