(Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Magadan region- 1.5 thousand people). Total population 115 thousand people. The languages ​​of the Eskimo-Aleut family are divided into two groups: Inupik (closely related dialects of the Diomede Islands in the Bering Strait, northern Alaska and Canada, Labrador and Greenland) and Yupik - a group from three languages(Central Yupik, Siberian Yupik and Sugpiak, or Alutiik) with dialects spoken by the population of western and southwestern Alaska, St. Lawrence Island and Chukotka Peninsula.

Formed as an ethnic group in the Bering Sea region before the end of the 2nd millennium BC. In the 1st millennium AD, the ancestors of the Eskimos - carriers of the archaeological culture of Thule settled in Chukotka and along the Arctic coast of America to Greenland.

The Eskimos are divided into 15 ethnocultural groups: the Eskimos of southern Alaska, on the coast of Prince William Bay and Kodiak Island, were subjected to strong Russian influence during the period of the Russian-American Company ( late 18th- middle of the 19th century); the Eskimos of western Alaska, to the greatest extent, retain their language and traditional way of life; Siberian Eskimos, including the Eskimos of St. Lawrence and the Diomede Islands; the Eskimos of northwest Alaska, who live along the coast from Norton Bay to the US-Canadian border and in the interior of northern Alaska; Mackenzie Eskimos - a mixed group on the northern coast of Canada around the mouth of the Mackenzie River, formed in late XIV- early XX centuries. from the indigenous people and the Nunaliit Eskimos - immigrants from northern Alaska; copper Eskimos, named after cold-forged native copper tools, live on the northern coast of Canada along Coronation Bay and on the islands of Banks and Victoria; the Netsilik Eskimos of northern Canada, along the coasts of the Boothia and Adelaide peninsulas, King William Island, and the lower Buck River; close to them, the Igloolik Eskimos - the inhabitants of the Melville Peninsula, the northern part of Baffin Island and Southampton Island; Eskimo caribou living in the interior tundra of Canada west of Hudson Bay mixed with other Eskimos; the Eskimos of Baffin Island in the central and southern parts of the island of the same name; the Eskimos of Quebec and the Eskimos of Labrador, respectively, in the north - northeast and west - southwest, up to the island of Newfoundland and the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the coast of the Labrador Peninsula, in the 19th century participated in the formation of the mestizo group of "settlers" (descendants from marriages between Eskimo women and white hunters and settlers); the Eskimos of the west of Greenland are the largest group of Eskimos, with early XVIII centuries were subjected to European (Danish) colonization and Christianization; the polar Eskimos are the northernmost aboriginal population group on Earth in the far northwest of Greenland; Eskimos of eastern Greenland, later than others (on turn of XIX-XX centuries) faced European influence.

Throughout their history, the Eskimos have created forms of culture adapted to life in the Arctic: a harpoon with a swivel tip, a hunting kayak boat, deaf fur clothing, a semi-dugout and a domed dwelling made of snow (igloo), a fat lamp for cooking food, lighting and heating the dwelling, and etc. The Eskimos were characterized by an unformed tribal organization, the absence of childbirth in the 19th century (except, apparently, the Bering Sea Eskimos). Although some groups were Christianized (XVIII century), the Eskimos actually retained animistic ideas, shamanism.

The Eskimos have five economic and cultural complexes: hunting for large marine animals - walruses and whales (Eskimos of Chukotka, the St. Lawrence Islands, the coast of northwestern Alaska, the ancient population of western Greenland); seal hunting (northwestern and eastern Greenland, islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago); fishing (Eskimos of the west and southwest of Alaska); wandering hunting for caribou deer (Eskimo caribou, part of the Eskimos of the north of Alaska); a combination of caribou hunting with sea hunting (most of the Eskimos of Canada, part of the Eskimos of northern Alaska). After the Eskimos were drawn into the orbit of market relations, a significant part of them switched to commercial fur hunting (trappering), in Greenland - to commercial fishing. Many work in construction, iron ore mines, oil fields, in arctic trading posts, etc. The Greenlanders and Eskimos of Alaska have a prosperous stratum and a national intelligentsia.

By the middle of the 20th century, four independent ethnopolitical communities of the Eskimos had formed.

1) Eskimos of Greenland - see Greenlanders.

2) Eskimos of Canada (self-name - Inuit). Since the 1950s, the Canadian government began to pursue a policy of concentration of the indigenous population and the construction of large settlements. Preserve the language, English and French(Eskimos of Quebec). Since the end of the 19th century, they have written on the basis of the syllabic alphabet.

3) Eskimos of Alaska, largely English-speaking, Christianized. Since the 1960s, they have been fighting for economic and political rights. Tendencies towards national-cultural consolidation are strong.

4) Asian (Siberian) Eskimos, Yupigyt, or Yugyt (self-name - "real people"; Yuits - official name in the 1930s). The language belongs to the Yupik group, the dialects are Sirenik, Central Siberian, or Chaplin, and Naukan. Writing since 1932 based on the Chaplin dialect. The Russian language is widespread. Settled on the coast of the Chukotka Peninsula from the Bering Strait in the north to the Gulf of the Cross in the west. The main groups are: Navukagmit (“Naukans”) living in the territory from the village of Inchoun to the village of Lavrentia; ungazigmit (“Chaplintsy”), who settled from the Senyavin Strait to Provideniya Bay and in the village of Uelkal; Sirenigmit ("Sireniks"), residents of the village of Sireniki.

The main traditional occupation is hunting for sea animals, mainly walrus and seal. developed to mid-nineteenth centuries, the production of the whale then declined due to the extermination of it by commercial whalers. The beast was beaten on rookeries, ice, in the water from boats - with darts, spears and harpoons with a detachable bone tip. They also hunted reindeer and mountain sheep with bows and arrows. Since the middle of the 19th century, firearms have been spreading, and the commercial value of fur hunting for fox and arctic fox has increased. Bird hunting techniques were close to those of the Chukchi (darts, bird bolas, etc.). They were also engaged in fishing and gathering. They bred sled dogs. An in-kind exchange with the deer Chukchi and American Eskimos was developed, trade trips to Alaska and St. Lawrence Island were regularly made.

The main food is walrus, seal and whale meat - ice cream, pickled, dried, boiled. Venison was highly valued. Vegetable food, seaweed, shellfish served as seasoning.

Initially, they lived in large settlements in semi-dugouts (now "lu"), which existed until the middle of the 19th century. XVII-XVIII centuries under the influence of the Chukchi, frame yarangas made of deer skins (myn "tyg" ak ") became the main winter dwelling. The walls of the yarangas were often lined with turf, made of stones or boards. The summer dwelling was quadrangular, made of walrus skins on a wooden frame, with a sloping roof. Before early XIX For centuries, communal houses have been preserved - large semi-dugouts in which several families lived, as well as meetings and holidays.

In winter, dog sleds and cross-country skis served as the main means of transportation. open water- leather boats-kayaks. The sledges, like those of the Chukchi, were arc-dusty until the middle of the 19th century and were harnessed by a fan, then the East Siberian sledge with a train team spread. The kayak was a lattice frame, covered with leather, with the exception of a small round hole at the top, which was pulled together around the rower's belt. Rowing with one two-blade or two single-blade oars. There were also multi-oar canoes of the Chukchi type for 20-30 rowers (an "yapik").

Until the end of the 19th century, the Eskimos wore deaf clothes - kukhlyanka, sewn from bird skins with feathers inside. With the development of exchange with the Chukchi reindeer herders, clothes began to be sewn from reindeer fur. Women's clothing - a double fur jumpsuit (k "al'yvagyn") of the same cut as that of the Chukchi. Summer clothing, both for men and women, was a deaf kamleika sewn from seal guts, later from purchased fabrics. Traditional shoes - fur boots (kamgyk) with cut soles and often with an obliquely cut top, men's - to the middle of the shin, women's - to the knee; leather pistons with a toe cut out much more than the instep in the form of a "bubble". Women braided their hair in two braids, men shaved , leaving a circle or several strands on the top of the head.Tattoo for men - circles near the corners of the mouth (a relic of the custom to wear a lip plug), for women - complex geometric patterns on the face and hands. To protect against diseases, face painting with ocher and graphite was also used.

Traditional decorative art - fur mosaic, embroidery with colored tendon threads on rovduga, beads, walrus tusk carving.

The Eskimos were dominated by a patrilineal account of kinship, a patrilocal marriage with working off for the bride. There were canoe artels (an "yam ima), which consisted of the owner of the canoe and his closest relatives and in the past occupied one semi-dugout. Its members divided hunting prey among themselves. Property inequality developed, especially with the development of barter trade, large merchants stood out, who sometimes became at the head of the settlements ("masters of the land").

The Eskimos believed in good and evil spirits. Of the animals, the killer whale, considered the patron saint of sea hunting, was especially revered; she was depicted on canoes, hunters wore her wooden image on their belts. Main character cosmogonic legends - Raven (Koshkli), the main plots of fairy tales are associated with a whale. The main rituals were associated with fishing cults: the Feast of Heads, dedicated to the hunting of walruses, the Feast of Kita (Pola), etc. Shamanism was developed. After the 1930s, the Eskimos organized fishing farms. Traditional occupations and culture began to disappear. Traditional beliefs, shamanism, bone carving, songs and dances are preserved. With the creation of writing, the intelligentsia is formed. Modern Eskimos are experiencing a rise in national identity.

Where do the Chukchi and Eskimos live is a question often asked by young children who have heard jokes or watched a cartoon about polar bears. And not so rarely adults are not ready to answer it with anything other than common phrase- "in the north". And many even sincerely believe that this different names the same people.

Meanwhile, the Eskimos, like the Chukchi, are a very ancient people, with a unique and interesting culture, a rich epic, a philosophy that is strange for most inhabitants of megacities and a rather peculiar way of life.

Who are the Eskimos?

This people has nothing to do with the word "eskimo", which means a popular variety of ice cream.

The Eskimos are the indigenous people of the North, belonging to the Aleut group. Anthropologists call them the "Arctic race", Eskimos or northern Mongoloids. The language of the Eskimos is original, it differs from the speech of such peoples as:

• Koryaks;
• kereks;
• Itelmens;
• alyutors;
• Chukchi.

However, in Eskimo speech there is a similarity with the language of the Aleuts. It is about the same as the Russian language with Ukrainian.

The writing and culture of the Eskimos is also distinctive. Unfortunately, in Russia the number of indigenous northern peoples is extremely small. As a rule, everything that is known in the world about the traditions, religion, worldview, writing and language of this ancient people, gleaned from the study of the life of the Eskimos in the USA and Canada.

Where do the Eskimos live?

If we omit such a variant of the address of this people as the North, then their habitat will turn out to be quite large.

The places where the Eskimos live in Russia are:

• Chukotka Autonomous Okrug - 1529 people, according to the 2010 census;
• Magadan region - 33, according to eight years ago.

Unfortunately, the number of this once big people in Russia is steadily falling. And along with this, culture, language, writing and religion disappear, the epic is forgotten. These are irreparable losses, since the development of the people, especially colloquial speech and many other nuances of the Russian Eskimos are fundamentally different from the American ones.

The places where the Eskimos live in North America are:

• Alaska - 47,783 people;
• California - 1272;
• Washington state - 1204;
• Nunavut - 24,640;
• Quebec - 10,190;
• Newfoundland and Labrador - 4715;
• Northwest Territories of Canada - 4165.

In addition, the Eskimos live in:

• Greenland - about 50,000 people;
• Denmark - 18 563.

These are the 2000 and 2006 census figures.

How did the name come about?

If where the Eskimo lives becomes clear when you open the encyclopedia, then the origin of the name of this people is not so simple.

They call themselves Inuit. The word "Eskimo" belongs to the language of the northern Indian tribes of America. It means "one who eats raw". This name came to Russia presumably in those days when Alaska was part of the empire and the northern ones quietly roamed on both continents.

How did they settle?

Children often ask not only where the Eskimo lives, but also where he came from in the North. Not only parents of curious kids, but also scientists do not have an exact answer to such a question.

It is only known for certain that the ancestors of this people came to the territory of Greenland in the 11-12th century AD. And they got there from the north of Canada, where the Thule culture, or the ancient Eskimo, existed already in the 10th century AD. This has been confirmed by archaeological research.

How did the ancestors of this people ended up on the Russian shores of the Northern Arctic Ocean, that is, where the Eskimo lives in cartoons and children's books is not known for certain.

Where do they live in winter?

The room where the Eskimos live - the dwelling, traditional for this people, is called "igloo". These are snow houses made of blocks. The average dimensions of the block are 50X46X13 centimeters. They are placed in a circle. The circle can have any diameter. It depends on the specific needs for which buildings are being built. Not only residential buildings are being built, other buildings are being built in the same way, for example, warehouses or something reminiscent of our kindergartens.

The diameter of the room where the Eskimos live, the house for the family, depends on the number of people. On average, it is 3.5 meters. Blocks are laid at a slight angle, wrapping in a spiral. The result is a beautiful white structure, most similar to a dome.

The top of the roof always remains open. That is, only one does not fit, last block. This is necessary for the free exit of smoke. The focus, of course, is located in the center of the needle.

In the snowy architecture of the Eskimos there are not only separate lonely domed houses. Quite often, entire cities are built for wintering, worthy of becoming a filming location for any fantasy film. The peculiarity of such buildings is that all or only a few igloos various diameters and heights are interconnected by tunnels, also lined with snow blocks. The purpose of such architectural delights is simple - the Eskimos can move inside the settlement without going outside. And this is important if the air temperature drops below 50 degrees.

What do they live in in the summer?

The building where the Eskimo lives in summer time often referred to as a tent. But this wrong definition. Live in summer period representatives of this northern people in yarangs similar to Chukchi. According to some scientists, the Eskimos borrowed the method of building housing from the Koryaks and Chukchi.

Yaranga is a wooden frame made of strong and long poles, covered with walrus and deer skins. The dimensions of the premises vary depending on what the yaranga is being built for. For example, shamans have the most large buildings, as they need a place to perform rituals. However, they do not live in them, but in small semi-dugouts or yarangas built in the neighborhood. For the frame, not only poles are used, but also animal bones.

It is generally accepted that the original summer dwelling of the Eskimos was not frame buildings, but semi-dugouts, the slopes of which were covered with skins. In fact, such a dugout resembles a cross between a fairy-tale hobbit house and a fox hole. However, whether the Eskimos borrowed the construction of yarangas from other peoples, or everything happened the other way around, remains an undetermined fact, a mystery, the answer to which may lie in national folklore and epic.

Eskimos not only fish and breed deer, they also hunt. Part of the hunting suit is real combat armor, comparable in strength and comfort to armor. Japanese warriors. Such armor is made from walrus bone. Bone plates are connected with leather cords. The hunter is not at all constrained in his movements, and the weight of the bone armor is practically not felt.

Eskimos don't kiss. Instead, lovers rub their noses. This behavioral pattern is due solely to climatic conditions too harsh for kissing.

Despite the complete absence of vegetables and cereals in the diet, the Eskimos have excellent health and excellent physique.

In Eskimo families, albinos and blonds are often born. This is due to close family marriages and is a sign of degeneration, although such people look amazingly beautiful and original.

The Eskimos are called the people who have long inhabited the territory of Chukotka in Russian Federation, Alaska in the United States of America, Nunavut in Canada and Greenland. The total number of Eskimos is about 170 thousand people. The largest number of them live in the Russian Federation - about 65 thousand people. There are about 45,000 of them in Greenland, and 35,000 in the United States of America. and in Canada - 26 thousand people.

Origin of the people

Literally, "Eskimo" means a person who eats meat. But in different countries they are called differently. In Russia, these are Yugyts, that is, real people, in Canada - Inuit, and in Greenland - Tladlits.

When wondering where the Eskimo lives, you must first understand who these people are. interesting people. The origin of the Eskimos is still considered today controversial issue. It is believed that they are ancient population in the Bering region. Their ancestral home may have been the northeast of Asia, and from there the settlers settled in the northwest of America through

Asian Eskimos today

Eskimos North America live in harsh Arctic zone. They occupy mainly the coastal part of the north of the mainland. And in Alaska, the Eskimo settlements occupy not only foreshore but also some islands. The population living on the Copper River is almost completely assimilated with the local Indians. Just like in Russia, there are very few settlements in the United States of America in which only Eskimos live. Their predominant number is located on the territory of Cape Barrow, on the banks of the Kobuka, Nsataka and Colville rivers, as well as along

The life and culture of the Greenlandic Eskimos and their relatives from Canada and the United States of America are similar. However, even today their dugouts and utensils are mostly gone. From the middle of the twentieth century, the construction of houses, including multi-storey ones, began to develop intensively in Greenland. Therefore, the housing of the Eskimos has changed significantly. More than fifty percent of the population began to use electricity and gas burners. Almost all Greenlandic Eskimos now prefer European clothing.

Lifestyle

The life of this people is divided into summer and winter modes of existence. Since ancient times, the main occupation of the Eskimos was hunting. In winter, the main prey of hunters is seals, walruses, various cetaceans, and sometimes bears. This fact explains why the territory where the Eskimo lives is almost always located on sea ​​coast. The skins of seals and the fat of dead animals have always faithfully served these people and helped them survive in the harsh Arctic conditions. In summer and autumn, men hunt birds, small game and even fish.

It should be noted that the Eskimos are not nomadic tribes. Despite the fact that in the warm season they are constantly on the move, they winter for several years in one place.

Unusual housing

To imagine what the Eskimos live in, you need to understand their way of life and rhythm. Due to the peculiar seasonality, the Eskimos also have two types of housing - tents for summer habitation and These dwellings are unique in their own way.

When creating summer tents, their volume is taken into account to accommodate at least ten people. From fourteen poles, a structure is created and covered with skins in two layers.

In the cold season, the Eskimos came up with something else. Igloos are snow huts that are their winter home option. They reach about four meters in diameter and two meters high. People are provided with lighting and heating thanks to seal fat, which is in bowls. Thus, the temperature in the room rises to twenty degrees above zero. These homemade lamps are used to cook food and melt snow for water.

As a rule, two families live in one hut. Each of them occupies its own half. Naturally, housing gets dirty very quickly. Therefore, it is destroyed and a new one is erected in another place.

Preservation of the Eskimo ethnic group

A person who has visited the lands where the Eskimo lives will not forget the hospitality and goodwill of this people. There is a special kindness and kindness here.

Despite the beliefs of some skeptics about the disappearance of the Eskimos from the face of the earth in the nineteenth or twentieth century, this people stubbornly proves the opposite. They managed to survive in the difficult conditions of the Arctic climate, create their own original culture and prove great resilience.

The unity of the people and its leaders plays a big role in this. An example of this is the Greenlandic and Canadian Eskimos. Photos, video reports, relationships with other species of the population prove that they were able not only to survive in a harsh environment, but also to achieve greater political rights, as well as gain respect in the world movement among the natives.

Unfortunately, on the territory of the Russian Federation, the socio-economic situation of the indigenous population looks a little worse and requires support from the state.

05/07/2018 Sergey Solovyov 2252 views

Eskimo plague. Photo: Konstantin Lemeshev / TASS

Russian Eskimos live in the Chukotka Autonomous District of the Magadan Region. Less than two thousand Eskimos live in Russia.

The origin of the Eskimos is not known for certain. Some researchers consider them the heirs ancient culture, which was common in the first millennium BC along the shores of the Bering Sea.

It is believed that the word "Eskimo" comes from "eskimantsik", that is, "raw foodist", "chewing raw meat, fish." Many hundreds of years ago, the Eskimos began to settle in vast territories - from Chukotka to Greenland. At present, their numbers are small - around 170 thousand people around the world. This people has its own language - Eskimo, it belongs to the Esko-Aleut family.

The historical connection of the Eskimos with other peoples of Chukotka and Alaska is obvious - it is especially noticeable with the Aleuts. Also big influence the formation of the Eskimo culture was influenced by the neighborhood with another people of the North - the Chukchi.

Eskimos traditionally hunt fur-bearing animals, walruses and gray whales, handing over meat and fur to the state. Photo: Konstantin Lemeshev / TASS

The Eskimos have long been engaged in whaling. By the way, it was they who invented the rotary harpoon (ung`ak`), bone tip which is separated from the shaft of the spear. For a very long time, whales were the main source of food for these people. However, gradually the number of marine mammals decreased markedly, so the Eskimos were forced to "switch" to the extraction of seals and walruses, although they, of course, did not forget about hunting for whales. The Eskimos ate meat both in ice cream and salted form, it was also dried and boiled. For a long time, the harpoon remained the main weapon of this people of the North. It was with him that the Eskimo men went on a sea hunt: in kayaks or on the so-called canoes - light, fast and stable boats on the water, the frame of which was covered with walrus skins. Some of these boats could carry twenty-five people or about four tons of cargo. Other kayaks, on the contrary, were built for one or two people. As a rule, the prey was divided equally among the hunters and their numerous relatives.

On land, the Eskimos traveled on dog sleds - the so-called arc-dust sleds, in which the dogs were harnessed with a "fan". In the 19th century, the Eskimos slightly changed the technique of movement - they also began to use short, dust-free sleds, in which the runners were made from walrus tusks. To make it more convenient to walk in the snow, the Eskimos came up with special “racquet” skis, which were a small frame with fixed ends and transverse struts intertwined with leather straps. From below they were lined with bone plates.

Indigenous inhabitant of Chukotka. Photo: Konstantin Lemeshev / TASS

The Eskimos also hunted on land - they mainly shot reindeer and mountain sheep. The main weapon (before the advent of firearms) was a bow with arrows. For a long time, the Eskimos were not interested in the production of fur-bearing animals. He was mostly beaten in order to make clothes for himself. However, in the 19th century, the demand for furs increased, so the “chewing raw meat”, who by that time had firearms, began to actively shoot these animals, and exchange their skins for various goods that were brought from big earth. Over time, the Eskimos turned into unsurpassed hunters, the fame of their accuracy spread far beyond the borders of the places where they lived. The Eskimos' methods of hunting arctic fox and fox are very similar to those used by the Chukchi, who are also excellent hunters.

Back in the 18th century, the Eskimos “peeped” from the Chukchi on the technology of building frame yarangas. Previously, they lived in semi-dugouts with a floor deepened into the ground, which was lined with whale bones. The frame of these dwellings was covered with deer skins, then it was covered with turf, stones, and the skins were again laid on top. In the summer, the Eskimos built light buildings quadrangular shape with shed roofs on wooden frames, which were covered with walrus skins. At the very end of the 19th century, the Eskimos had light wooden houses with gable roofs and windows.
It is believed that it was the Eskimos who were the first to build snow huts - igloos, domed buildings with a diameter of two to four meters and a height of about two meters from compacted snow or ice blocks. Light entered these structures either directly through snow blocks walls, or through small holes, which were closed with dried seal intestines.

The Eskimos also adopted the style of clothing from the Chukchi. In the end, they stopped sewing clothes from bird feathers and began to make better and warmer things from deer skins. Traditional Eskimo shoes are high boots with a false sole and a slanting top, as well as fur stockings and seal torbasa (kamgyk). Eskimo waterproof shoes were made from seal skins. Fur hats and Eskimo's mittens Everyday life they were not worn, they were worn only during long journeys or wanderings. Festive robes were decorated with embroidery or fur mosaics.

Eskimos speak to members of the Soviet-American expedition "Bering bridge" on the island of Little Diomede (USA). 1989 Photo: Valentin Kuzmin/TASS

Modern Eskimos still honor the old traditions, deep down believing in spirits, the kinship of man with animals and objects that surround him. And shamans help people communicate with this world. Once upon a time, each village had its own shaman, but now there are fewer people capable of penetrating into the worlds of spirits. Living shamans enjoy great respect: they are brought gifts, they are asked for help and well-being, they are the main figures at almost all festive events.
One of the most revered animals among the Eskimos has always been a killer whale, she was considered the patroness of sea hunters. According to the beliefs of the Eskimos, the killer whale could turn into a wolf, helping hunters in the tundra.

Another animal that the Eskimos treated with special respect is the walrus. Around the middle of summer, a period of storms set in, and hunting at sea was temporarily stopped. At this time, the Eskimos held a holiday in honor of the walrus: the carcass of the animal was pulled out of the glacier, the shaman began to frantically beat the tambourine, calling all the inhabitants of the village. The culmination of the holiday is a joint feast, where walrus meat was the main dish. The shaman gave part of the carcass to the water spirits, calling them to join the meal. The rest went to the people. The skull of a walrus was solemnly placed on a sacrificial place: it was assumed that this was a tribute to the main patroness of the Eskimos - the killer whale.

Many fishing holidays have been preserved among the Eskimos to this day - in the fall, for example, "seeing off the whale" is celebrated, in the spring - "meeting the whale." The folklore of the Eskimos is quite diverse: all oral creativity is divided into two types - unipak and unipamsyuk. The first is directly “news”, “news”, that is, a story about recent events, the second - heroic legends and stories about the events of the distant past, fairy tales and myths.

The Eskimos also love to sing, and their chants are also divided into two types - public hymn songs and "songs for the soul", which are performed individually, but always accompanied by a tambourine, which is considered a family heirloom and is passed down from generation to generation - until until it completely fails.

Eskimos. There are many names for this brave people of the North, living in the most harsh conditions known to man. What do we really know about them? Apart from the fact that they hunt seals and walruses with harpoons and wear hooded fur coats, most people know very little about these hunter-gatherers and reindeer herders.

10. Clothes and armor

The Inuit people are, by necessity, quite skilled at making warm, durable clothing. In terms of heat preservation, Eskimo clothes have no equal, because in traditional Eskimo clothes you can safely stay in the cold at -50 degrees for many hours.

However, when they went hunting to survive, they were also able to make very strong armor for clothing. After all, they went out to hunt massive beasts and needed protection too. The armor of the Inuit had a lamellar structure, consisting of bone plates (often from walrus teeth, known as walrus tusk). Raw leather straps connected the plates together. It is curious that the design of such armor resembles the ancient armor of Japanese warriors. The fact that the Inuit were able to come up with such extremely functional armor speaks volumes about their talent and ingenuity.

Often used in a neutral context, the term "popsicle" is generally considered slightly racist, in the same way that the term "Indian" is offensive to Native Americans. However, this is technically considered acceptable, and scientific term usually has a fairly solid etymology. Although the word “eskimo” is thought to be Danish and French (from “eskimeaux”), the name is likely based on the old term “askimo.” Researchers don't seem to be able to agree on whether this means "meat-eaters" or "raw-eaters."

However, many Eskimos find this term offensive to themselves, so out of respect for this proud people, we will avoid using this term. The generally accepted, politically correct name (many of them also use this term for themselves) will be the word - Inuit.

8. Eskimo kiss

An Eskimo kiss, as a sign of love, is when two people rub their noses. The Inuit have developed such a gesture over the millennia, because with an ordinary kiss in the cold, due to saliva, you can freeze to each other in an awkward position.

The Eskimo kiss is called "kunik". This is a type of intimate greeting often practiced between spouses or children and their parents. Those who meet may look like they are rubbing their noses, but they are actually sniffing each other's hair and cheeks. Thus, two people who have not seen each other can quickly remind the other person of themselves with their individual smell.

Although kunik doesn't really fit into the concept of a kiss, it is considered an intimate gesture.

Vegetarianism is not very common among traditional Inuit tribes. Because they live in a barren, cold environment, their diet is mainly based on different kinds meat and only occasionally, on some types of berries and algae. Even in modern times, fruits and vegetables are scarce and expensive to import in cold weather. northern regions, so they still rely on their traditional diet.

The Inuit have always been excellent hunters. They consume narwhals, walruses, seals and various birds and fish. Even polar bears occasionally appear on their menu. There are many traditional ways of preparing food: drying, boiling or freezing. Some foods are not cooked at all. Some people think that frozen meat is a real delicacy, like ice cream.

Although you might think that a diet that to a large extent relies on meat leads to serious problems health, the Inuit who follow this diet are actually some of the most healthy people in the world. This "Inuit Paradox" has long been the subject of serious scientific interest.

The igloo is the quintessential Inuit dwelling: an ingenious domed structure built from blocks of ice and snow.

Although most people have seen pictures of igloos as small snow domes, they do exist. various forms and dimensions, as well as materials. For the Inuit, “igloo” is simply a word for a building in which people live.

5. Kallupilluk

Every culture has its mythical monsters. The Inuit spent their days bypassing the dangerous ice fields, hunting huge and strong walruses and aggressive bears. It would seem where you can come up with a fantastic monster. However, the Inuit also had one creature that was used to frighten naughty children. This is Kallupilluk, literally meaning "Monster". According to legend, he lived under the ice and waited for people who fell into the water. Then the monster attacked them and dragged careless people into the icy deep sea. It was a natural and healthy fear in the Arctic, where falling into water often meant death.

4. Blond Eskimos

In 1912, an explorer named Stefansson found a strange tribe of Inuit, which consisted entirely of blond, tall, Scandinavian-like people. This caused a heated discussion about the nature of this tribe. Most people eventually agreed that these blond Inuit in the Canadian Arctic were descendants of the Vikings who sailed here at the dawn of time. However, DNA studies in 2003 debunked this hypothesis. The fact is that with marital relations and closely related incest, blonds are often born.

3. Words to describe snow.

Most of the world's languages ​​have one or more words for snow. However, in the Inuit language there is great amount words to describe snow. The Inuit can describe snow in 50-400 different words, eloquently crafted to describe a very specific kind this frozen sediment.

For example, the word Akuilokok means: “snow is falling quietly”, and pyegnartok is “Snowy weather, good for a hunting trip”, and so on.

2. Weapons.

Although contact with European culture gave them access to firearms and others modern species weapon, traditional weapons Inuit were made from stone or the bones of slaughtered animals. They did not have the ability to forge metal, so bone was one of the main features of their weapons. Bows were made from leather, bones and tendons.

Because most Inuit weapons were used for hunting and butchering, they were purposely made to inflict maximum damage. The edges were sharp and often serrated, meant to be torn and torn rather than neatly cut and pierced.

1. Poverty

Progress modern life and the development of production does not imply a wide development of the North and its inhabitants, so the Inuit suffered the same fate as other semi-nomadic tribes, such as the Australian Aborigines. Among the Eskimos, the percentage of poverty and unemployment is high. This has given rise to many social problems such as the rise in alcoholism. It remains to be wondered how these proud and unpretentious peoples continue to live a traditional way of life.