ESKIMO AREA
Peoples
This is one of the few areas in the world, about which it has been said that physical type, language and culture coincide. There are a variety of names given to the different kinds of variations in the cultural type based on the specific ecological adaption. These should not be considered "tribes" or "nations" since there is no unifying politcal structure involved.
The term "Eskimo" is said to derive from a word meaning "raw fish eater". This term is not the one used by these people themselves, but the term inuit which means something like "people" or "humans" is.
Languages
For more information on American Indian Languages, click on the bird!
Eskimo-Aleut
(The language is classified as American-Artic Paleosiberian and extends from Siberia to Greenland.)
Central Greenland Eskimo
Alaskan Eskimo
Eastern Aleut
Western Aleut
Chukchi-Kamchatcan
Spoken in Siberia
Major Source of Food
The major source of food is animal, and a distinction is made between land and sea animals, both fish and mammal (seal, walrus, whale etc.).
House Types
The most famous of the house types here is the igloo or snow house, although other kinds of dwellings, such as tents can be found in the area in different seasons.