What is an inuit?

Inuit (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, singular

Inuk / ᐃᓄᒃ) is a general term for a group of

culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic coasts

of Siberia, Alaska, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec,

Labrador and Greenland (see Eskimo). Until fairly recent times,

there has been a remarkable homogeneity in the culture throughout

this area, which traditionally relied on fish, sea mammals, and

land animals for food, heat, light, clothing, tools, and shelter.

Their language is Inuktitut.

The Inuit Circumpolar Conference defines its constituency to

include Canada's Inuit and Inuvialuit, Greenland's Kalaallit

people, Alaska's Inupiaq and Yupik people, and Russia's Yupik.

However, the Yupik are not Inuit in the sense of being descended

from the Thule and prefer to be called Yupik or

Eskimo.

Canadian Inuit live primarily in Nunavut (a territory in

Canada), Nunavik (the northern part of Quebec) and in Nunatsiavut

(the Inuit settlement region in Labrador). The Inuvialuit live

primarily in the Mackenzie River delta, on Banks Island and part of

Victoria Island in the Northwest Territories. There have been Inuit

settlements in Yukon, especially at Herschel Island, but there are

none at present. Alaskan Inupiaq live on the North Slope of Alaska,

while the Yupik live in western Alaska and a part of Chukotka

Autonomous Area in Russia.

The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is a national organization in Canada

which represents over 40,000 Canadian Inuit.