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.

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