Student Last Name 1
Student Name
Mrs. Reyes
English 1
30 October 2013
The Inuit Culture of Alaska
While many Americans who reside in the north dream of warm weather and sandy beaches, one particular northern culture has embraced their frigid region entirely. The Inuit, which means “the real people,” is an Alaskan culture that has a wider geographical range than any other aboriginal people. In addition, the Inuit society remains the most lightly distributed people on earth. This culture, nearly secluded from cities and government, has built itself around one unwavering aspect of their region: the cold climate (Jones). ______
______
______
______.
The traditions of the Inuit spur from their climate. Their diet generally consists of fish, seals, whales, and related sea mammals, the flesh of which they eat cooked, dried, or frozen. Their houses, called igloos, are of two kinds: walrus or sealskin tents for summer and huts or houses for winter. Winter houses are usually made of stone, with a driftwood or whalebone frame, covered with moss or sod. The entrance is a long, narrow passage just high enough to admit a person crawling on hands and knees. Snow igloos are unknown to most Alaskan Inuit, but are found in Canada and some places in Greenland. The principal means of transportation are the kayak, the umiak, and the dogsled. The kayak is a small, seaworthy hunting canoe-like boat. The Inuit use the umiak, a much larger boat, for whaling, and the dogsled for land travel, in which a team of dogs pull a sled on iron runners. In the last half-century motorboats and snowmobiles have also become important modes of travel (Jones). These traditional day to day living strategies not only help the Inuit survive the cold climate of Alaska, but have become trademarks of the culture.
In addition to the traditions of the Inuit, the social structures and norms of the society define the culture and ensure survival. The social organizations of the Inuit are remarkably uniform despite the people’s widespread locations. Like many other cultures, the nuclear family, nearby relatives, and spouses form the base of the social unit. Matrimony, a crucial factor in survival, is seldom arranged. However, marriages are based on a distinct division of labor. Traditionally, husband and wife maintain their own possessions. The men built houses, hunt, and fish while women cook, dress animal skins, and make clothing. The culture considers food community property, while the unspoken social law is the obligation to help one’s kin. Social ridicule is the most common form of community control. Extreme cases of wrongdoing, after lengthy consideration, often result in social banishment of the offender or death (Jones). This sense of community and values displays the culture’s work ethic and willingness to work together, which helps them to persevere in the harsh conditions.
Traditional Inuit religion is a form of animism, where all objects and living things have a spirit. All phenomena occur through the action of these spirits and can affect one’s life, but they cannot be influenced by prayer. Instead, they are controlled by charms and talismans. The person best equipped to use these is the shaman, but anyone with the appropriate charms or amulets can exercise this control. Shamans are usually consulted to heal illnesses and resolve serious problems. Certain taboos are followed to avoid offending animal spirits, while animals killed for food must be handled with individual rituals. The close link between spirituality and nature reflects the culture’s reliance on nature and their respect for it (Jones). The Inuit’s reverence for nature allows them to live in the bitter environment, while their religious beliefs define the culture’s spirituality.
______. The Inuit culture’s essence is found in its genuine housing, modes of transportation, respected social organizations, and religion. The Inuit people of Alaska have created a unique, well adapted culture that focuses on necessities and survival.
(Word Count: 656)
Work Cited
Jones, J. Sydney. “Inuit.” Multicultural America. Advameg Inc. 2008. Web. 22 July 2009.