The Inuit Of The Arctic

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The Inuit of the Arctic The Inuit people of the Arctic live in very extreme cold conditions and utilize every resource of the area to survive. There are traditional values of the Inuit people that are critical for survival in the Arctic life. Self-reliance and their ability to meet life’s challenges with resourcefulness and preservation. The inuit people admire people who encounter a problem and solve it themselves. To show frustration or anger is considered childish. The adults are expected to solve the problem and if it cannot be worked out then accept it as such. The Inuit feel that humility and tact are important qualities of an independent adult.They also are considered ill-mannered if they brag or boast about hunting skills. Bragging about success is considered inappropriate behavior. Traditionally, bragging was believed to tempt the animals to avoid that hunter and anyone who hunts with him and will potentially deprive the family and community in which they live from food. The men of the Inuit people were the hunters for their meat supply which was their main source of food. The Inuit men did most of the work like hunting and building. The women cooked, sewed, made fishing nets, and took care of the children. The women also made roofs for the houses by tanning hides and harvested food and preserved it. The children were taught at an early age to take care of themselves and were considered an adult. The toys the children were miniature adult tools like a sewing needle for the girls and the boys had weapons to use to kill animals. The children were taught how to weave, hunt and carve by watching older people.The children had knowledge of geography, astronomy, botany, language, and spiritual teachings (Reed,1999). The traditional Inuit diet centered around fat, seals, whales caribou (reindeer), and fish. They also depended on these animals in a

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