Eskimo

Eskimo, of French Esquimaux, is the collective term for the indigenous peoples in the northern polar region, whose settlement area extends from northeastern Siberia across the Bering Strait and the Arctic regions of Alaska and Canada to Greenland. The two main groups are the Inuit of northern Canada and Greenland, and the Yupik of the Russian Chukotka and Alaska, smaller groups are the Greenland Kalaallit in Alaska and the Inupiat. Further related are counted among the natives of Alaska Aleutian Islands. Together they speak Eskimo- Aleut languages ​​and form a relatively homogeneous cultures the North American culture area of ​​the " Arctic ".

Term

The term "Eskimo" is originally a foreign name, also known since the 17th century and whose etymology is not clear. The non-governmental organization Inuit Circumpolar Council, founded by Inuit would generally replace the term "Eskimo " with " Inuit ". However, this word does not appear in all Eskimo languages ​​and also referred to only the Canadian and Greenlandic ethnic groups, which is why the Yupik and Inupiat use their own name, or to feel the "people of the Eskimos " associated. Also located in the Inuit - owned, internationally known through the sale of Inuit art cooperative of Cape Dorset in Nunavut called the West Baffin Eskimo since its inception Cooperative ( WBEC ).

Although their settlements are geographically expansive and not contiguous, records the counting to the Eskimos ethnic groups a unified cultural and linguistic relationship of close, but makes the usual "human" self-description also significant differences. In southern Alaska, the Native Yupik call in Nordwestalaska " Inupiat ," in Mackenziegebiet " Inuvialuit " in northern and northeastern Canada, " Inuit " and Greenland Kalaallit.

"Eskimo" is a collective term originally used by Cree and Algonquin Indians for the non- related peoples in the northern polar region. The word should in the opinion of Ives Goddard (RH Ives Goddard, III) etymologically aayaskimeew at the Smithsonian Institution from the Cree word " Schneeschuhflechter " (English: snowshoe Netter ) derived ..

The linguist Jose Mailhot of Quebec who has mastered the language Innu - Montagnais, published in 1978 a study in which he derives the term from this language and with " people who speak a different language " (English: "people who speak a different language " ) translated.

The earlier linguistic derivation from the language of the Anishinabe ashkipok, " raw meat eaters " (English: eaters of raw meat ) and related words from similar Indian languages ​​is now considered refuted and can therefore no longer represented. This earlier word description led the Inuit to reject the word "Eskimo " because they felt " raw meat eaters " as a pejorative.

Dissemination

The total number of Inuit Arctic residents is estimated at around 160,000. In Greenland, about 50,000 live in Canada about 60,000 - of which the territory of Nunavut approximately 30,000 in the rest of Canada, especially in the Northwest Territories, in the territory of Nunavik (northern Quebec ) and Labrador, along also about 30,000 - and in Alaska about 30,000. More 10 to 20,000 live in Chukotka ( northeastern Siberia). Depending on the region these people perform different names: Inuit in northern and northeastern Canada, Inuit and special Kalaallit in Greenland, Yupik (also Yuit ) on the Siberian Chukchi Peninsula and on St. Lawrence Island off Alaska, Inupiat in western Alaska, Inuvialuit (also Inuvialiut ) in northern Alaska and northwestern Canada. The Eskimos also include the Yupik closely related Alutiiq ( Sugpiaq ).

In Churchill ( Manitoba ) is an Eskimo Museum.

Culture

The traditional music of the Eskimo is mostly vocal. The only own musical instruments are the large frame drum qila, which was formerly used as a shaman drum, and occasionally rattles. With the qila the drum songs are accompanied inngerutit Greenland. When ritualized " drum dispute" ivertut pisii to throw two opponents abusive songs at his head. The drum dance called aton.