The indigenous inhabitants of Alaska once known as Eskimos are part of the Inuit population, hardy hunters that originally lived in northern regions of the United States, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. Although their traditional way of life has been largely lost to more modern ways, the unwritten Eskimo legends and stories from earlier days were passed down through the years and now are being recorded by scholars.
The preferred term for this people group is Inuit, which means 'real people' in their language. American Indians who lived further south called them 'Eskimos', meaning 'raw meat eaters'. The tundra, a barren region that is covered with ice most of the year and where the soil remains frozen except for the top few inches even in summer, yields mainly meat for its inhabitants. Fuel for cooking is non-existent, except for animal fats.
Survival was never certain for the original settlers of the tundra. Modern times have seen disruption of the traditional way of life for the Inuit, with children educated in state schools, families living in modern housing, food coming from the grocery store, and snowmobiles replacing snowshoes and dog sleds. In the old days, hunters risked their lives to kill seals, whales, walrus, and even polar bears for food and warm clothing. Death from drowning, animal attack, starvation, illness, or old age infirmity was never far away.
Not all the houses were igloos. These were ice houses built for winter quarters, when sea and land were covered by ice and game was scarce. Other forms of housing included permanent stone huts and skin tents used during summer hunts.
Hunting was all-important. Like many other hunters, Eskimos believed that they should live in harmony with nature. All forms of life were believed to have souls; the sea, the mountains, and the sky harbored spirits; and the natives had reverence for everything around them. Many stories told around the campfire reflected the prowess of hunters and the willing sacrifice made by animals that gave their lives to feed the people.
There were supernatural elements in every legend; animals could speak but they were often really spirit (guides, guardians, or enemies) in disguise. Ghosts, fantastic creatures, and dancing spirits in the aurora borealis surrounded the Inuit day and night. Gods were believed to live in the waters. No one wanted to offend a spirit or a god.
The legends reflect the harsh conditions of life near the Arctic Circle. The extended family was the basis of society and the main form of security. Being an orphan was a vast misfortune, and survival of those bereft of family was uncertain. Many great heroes began life as despised and mistreated orphans, shunned or barely tolerated. Hunting, hunger, and eating play a large part in these stories. Origin tales tell of the beginnings of sun, moon, stars, animals, and humans. Not all spirits were benign, and witchcraft was practiced and feared.
Eskimo legends are more grim than poetic. There is not much similarity to the much embellished myths of Greece, Rome. Or the Norsemen. However, the human spirit triumphs in these tales in the same way.
The preferred term for this people group is Inuit, which means 'real people' in their language. American Indians who lived further south called them 'Eskimos', meaning 'raw meat eaters'. The tundra, a barren region that is covered with ice most of the year and where the soil remains frozen except for the top few inches even in summer, yields mainly meat for its inhabitants. Fuel for cooking is non-existent, except for animal fats.
Survival was never certain for the original settlers of the tundra. Modern times have seen disruption of the traditional way of life for the Inuit, with children educated in state schools, families living in modern housing, food coming from the grocery store, and snowmobiles replacing snowshoes and dog sleds. In the old days, hunters risked their lives to kill seals, whales, walrus, and even polar bears for food and warm clothing. Death from drowning, animal attack, starvation, illness, or old age infirmity was never far away.
Not all the houses were igloos. These were ice houses built for winter quarters, when sea and land were covered by ice and game was scarce. Other forms of housing included permanent stone huts and skin tents used during summer hunts.
Hunting was all-important. Like many other hunters, Eskimos believed that they should live in harmony with nature. All forms of life were believed to have souls; the sea, the mountains, and the sky harbored spirits; and the natives had reverence for everything around them. Many stories told around the campfire reflected the prowess of hunters and the willing sacrifice made by animals that gave their lives to feed the people.
There were supernatural elements in every legend; animals could speak but they were often really spirit (guides, guardians, or enemies) in disguise. Ghosts, fantastic creatures, and dancing spirits in the aurora borealis surrounded the Inuit day and night. Gods were believed to live in the waters. No one wanted to offend a spirit or a god.
The legends reflect the harsh conditions of life near the Arctic Circle. The extended family was the basis of society and the main form of security. Being an orphan was a vast misfortune, and survival of those bereft of family was uncertain. Many great heroes began life as despised and mistreated orphans, shunned or barely tolerated. Hunting, hunger, and eating play a large part in these stories. Origin tales tell of the beginnings of sun, moon, stars, animals, and humans. Not all spirits were benign, and witchcraft was practiced and feared.
Eskimo legends are more grim than poetic. There is not much similarity to the much embellished myths of Greece, Rome. Or the Norsemen. However, the human spirit triumphs in these tales in the same way.
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