|
VI. Provision
of Food
 |
The
Inuit ethnic group, who live in the coastal areas
of Greenland, Arctic North America, and Siberia,
have a diet that consists mainly of fish and seals.
They also use seals, whales, and related sea mammals
as a source of clothing, building materials, and
fuel for light and heat. Shown here is an Inuit
man ice fishing.
David
Hiser/Tony Stone Images
|
The
traditional Inuit diet
consists mainly of fish, seals, whales, and related sea
mammals, the flesh of which is eaten cooked, dried, or
frozen.
|
|
Historical
Picture Archive/Corbis
|
 |
|
The
traditional economy of many Inuit and Eskimo groups
of the North American Arctic was based on the hunting
of sea mammals, including whales, seals, and walruses.
These paintings from the 1830s depict Inuit as they
hunt whales in open water and seals through holes in
the ice. |
The
seal is their staple winter food and most valuable resource.
It provides them with dog food, clothing, and materials
for making boats, tents, and harpoon lines, as well as
fuel for both light and heat. In the interior of Alaska
and Canada, caribou are hunted in the summer.
To
a lesser extent the polar bear, fox, hare, and Arctic
birds, chiefly sea birds, also furnish important supplies.
Large
game such as whale, walrus, and caribou require bigger
hunting expeditions than are possible for one kinship
group.
Many
families follow a seasonal hunting and fishing cycle that
takes them from one end to the other of their customary
territory; trade with other groups often occurs along
the way.
In
the late 20th century many Inuit work for wages and buy
commercially prepared food.
next
page - previous page
"Inuit,"
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com
© 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
-
return to index Inuit -
|
