People of the Arctic

Out of a population of about 4 million, about ten percent is indigenous groups.“Arctic indigenous peoples include for example Saami in circumpolar areas of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Northwest Russia, Nenets, Khanty, Evenk and Chukchi in Russia, Aleut, Yupik and Inuit (Iñupiat) in Alaska, Inuit (Inuvialuit) in Canada and Inuit (Kalaallit) in Greenland.” (Arctic Centre, University of Lapland).

Eskimos

Since the Arctic is made up of such a variety of countries, it is rich in culture and diversity. There are so many indigenous people who live in this Arctic Circle. When most people think of the Arctic they probably think that everyone here is an Eskimo. Even though it is a stereotype, there are Eskimos who live in the Arctic. They can be defined as a “ member of an indigenous people of Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska, and northeastern Siberia, characterized by short, stocky build and light-brown complexion.” (Dictionary.com). Eskimos were known to adapt to freezing temperatures, hunt using harpoons or bows and arrows, wear coats made of caribou fur, use dog sleds as transportation, and live in igloo style homes.

Inuit

Since then, times have changed and modernized greatly. Firstly, they are now called the “Inuit”, which means “the people”.  The Inuit use snowmobiles as a means of transportation, rifles for hunting, live in northern towns and villages, and brought money into the Eskimo “economy”. Many Inuit works extracting oil and gas from rich deposits beneath the permafrost, working in tourism, or conducting research. They live in harmony and live off of their natural world. Hunting and fishing will always remain as an important aspect of life. They hunt seal, caribou, whales, wolves, etc. They use every part of the animal; the meat for food, fur/skin for clothing, bones for tools, and the fat for cooking and lamps. Even today Modern Inuit use hunting techniques to catch their food. Of course, there are stores but it tends to be expensive and unhealthy. Plus hunting can allow modern Inuit to connect with their culture and help connect with their “inner harmony and balance” (Inuit:A Hunting Way of Life).

` Inuit People

Yupik

The Yupik, or “real people”, are another indigenous people located western, southwestern, and southcentral Alaska and the Russian Far East; closely related to the Inuit people. The religion of this tribe was shamanism, believing in harmful and benign spirits. There are certain animals that are sacred and to not be harmed. The economic activity of hunting was similar to that of the Inuit. “Some enterprising Yupik specialized in trade and used their economic advantage to become village chiefs, with such functions as opening and closing the hunting season, helping to mediate quarrels, and deciding the times for trade journeys.” (Encyclopaedia of Britannica, Yupik People).

Yupik People

In the Arctic, I do not believe that there is any real “minority” group. There are tribes that live in the Arctic region, but no one is better than another. There is no mention of conflict between groups. They are peaceful people. Since the Arctic is made up of so much land (and ice) there is plenty of areas to live in solitude. I think the people of the Arctic are all facing the same issue; climate change, affecting homes, communities, and the surrounding animal life.

Citations

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Eskimo.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 21 Jan. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Eskimo-people.

Heritage Information Network. “Inuit Culture.” Haida Gambling Games, Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage, Canadian Heritage Information Network, www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitLo.do?method=preview&lang=EN&id=10679.

“Arctic Indigenous Peoples.” Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, www.arcticcentre.org/EN/communications/arcticregion/Arctic-Indigenous-Peoples.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Yupik.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 21 July 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/Yupik.

Climate and Politics

The Arctic

When most people think of vacations, they think of somewhere warm and tropical like Hawaii or Mexico. No one ever says, "Let's spend spring break in the Arctic!". But why not? 
*Did you know that the Arctic is the only place that Narwhals exist? AKA the "unicorn of the sea". Arctic in Greek is Arktos which means bear, referring to the Northern constellation. 

This is considered the Northernmost Region on Earth. It is made up of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Iceland. And of course the Arctic Ocean. 



DEFINING THE REGION

Cultural and Social

Surprisingly, the Arctic region is home to over 4 million people, they are called "Inuits".Traditionally, the native Inuits used hunting, fishing, gathering, and herding for survival. Farming was primarily used in Greenland. In some parts of the Arctic, people still live in small villages like their ancestors like in Siorapaluk, Greenland. On the other hand, most people had modernized. The first thing I think about is how Sarah Palin could "see Russia from her backyard " at her Alaskan home. 
Dogs are a huge part of Arctic culture. They make great companions and can serve as sled dogs. 

http://www.canaryzoo.com/dog%20species%20arctic%20dogs1.htm

This is a link to a website with a huge list of Arctic Dogs and their origins!

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/vtl07.la.ws.process.sleddogs/the-sled-dogs-of-the-arctic-circle-nature/en/

This is a link to a video on the background on Sled dogs.

Physical/Geography


As you can image, the one phrase mainly used to describe the Arctic is well... unusually cold. At the North Pole, the sun rises once a year and sets once a year. There are six months of daylight and six months of night.


Phenomena

Personally, I believe that a huge characteristic of the Arctic is the incredible phenomena that occur there. One example is the Aurora Borealis, aka Northern Lights, is a beautiful wonder that occurs on clear, dark nights when solar storms are active. "The Cree in the north of the Canadian province of Quebec believe that the lights are the spirits of their ancestors and by rubbing their hands together as they watch them, the spirits will dance in the sky. A traditional belief amongst the Saami in Scandinavia is that the lights are the tail of an arctic fox that extends upwards into the sky." (ArcticPhoto).



STEREOTYPES

Some main stereotypes of the Arctic consist of the fact that: everyone is an Eskimo that lives an igloo and penguins and polar bears roam all the land. When I think of the Arctic region, I picture thousands of miles of untouched ice and water. The Arctic Circle is made up mainly of the Arctic Ocean. It is easy to assume that "Eskimos" live here since its so cold. Like why would anyone want to live in a place that is covered in ice and cold all the time? There are many forms of wildlife that thrive in the Arctic, for example, foxes, walruses, seals, whales, etc.

Stereotypes and stories are formed by the unknown. When we are new or unfamiliar to something, we make assumptions in our heads. I think many people make assumptions about the Arctic since it is more or less not an ideal vacay location. Also, many countries that make up the Arctic were unexplored for a very long time. There are not many reasons why people would go to this cold place, or I guess you could say people only go for one particular reason. I think the main reason people would go to the Arctic is to research the lands, animals, or climate. 

ATTENTION***

As many of you know, there are major concerns and conspiracies about global warming. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Arctic is warming at a dangerous rate. They state that "Without urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming Arctic: rising sea levels, changes in climate and precipitation patterns, increasing severe weather events, and loss of fish stocks, birds and marine mammals." I believe that everyone should check out their website and read some of their articles and how animals of the Arctic are being affected today.

https://arcticwwf.org/work/climate/

Thanks for checking out my blog! Now enjoy some photos of the Arctic!

Sources

“10 Facts about the Arctic.” National Geographic Kids, 5 Nov. 2018, www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/general-geography/ten-facts-about-the-arctic/.

“The Sled Dogs of the Arctic Circle | Nature.” PBS LearningMedia, www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/vtl07.la.ws.process.sleddogs/the-sled-dogs-of-the-arctic-circle-nature/en/.

“National Snow and Ice Data Center.” Animals and Frozen Ground | National Snow and Ice Data Center, nsidc.org/cryosphere/arctic-meteorology/arctic-people.html.

“10 Facts about the Arctic.” National Geographic Kids, 5 Nov. 2018, www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/general-geography/ten-facts-about-the-arctic/.

“Polar Phenomena.” ArcticPhoto- Facts, www.arcticphoto.com/polphen.asp.

“Arctic Climate Change.” Arctic, arcticwwf.org/work/climate/.