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=** The Culture of the Inuit - Eskimo **=

 The language of the Inuit is Inuit. Inuit is spoken in many countries including the United States (primarily Alaska), Greenland, and scarcely in Russia. The language itself has often been described a many languages strewn together, as different places use different variants of words in the language. In different areas of the world, the language is referred to by different names (ex. In Quebec, Inuit is known as Inuttitut) It is often referred to as the “Eskimo language”, since using “Inuit language” is politically incorrect and confusing to the Inuit themselves. The “Eskimo language” is a term that’s rather ambiguous though, as it could include Yupik.
 * Language **

 The Inuit believe in extensive folklore to explain multiple happenings in nature and life. They have also traditionally used amulets and spells for good luck. They have multiple taboos and customs that go along with hunting, since they believe strongly in honoring the souls of their hunt. The souls of the hunt's dead animals are honored in this ceremony because the Inuit believe in animism. The Inuit celebrate the first kill of a young boy (which progresses him to manhood), and believe strongly in honoring their own dead. The culture believes in following under the figurehead of their house, and believe that community is an important part of life. As well, the Inuit believe that the roles of men and women are different within a marriage, but both contribute equally to the success of the family.
 *  Beliefs **

 The Inuit believe in peaceful resolving of conflicts, and cooperation. They are modest in their own accomplishments, and rarely ever get angry with each other. This is not to be misinterpreted though: they do get angry sometimes. When they do, the Inuit people commonly hint their feelings of anger, or simply walk away to avoid a conflict. The Inuit community believes in maturity (Ihuma), social control, caring for others (Naklik), and they fear being scolded (Iliria).They raise their children to learn respect for their elders. Family is a big part of the Inuit life, and the male of the household serves as the figurehead. The Inuit community and families stand behind the figureheads of the community, as they stand few but powerful.
 *  Values **

 The Inuit have multiple behaviors which revolve around a strong teaching of discipline and respect, and also magic/supernatural powers. In the culture, they have multiple spells and amulets that are believed to cure loved ones of illness. When a woman is pregnant, she is isolated by the Shaman of the tribe for a period of time depending on the sex of the child. After the child is born, the Shaman will preform a sort of baptism which gives the child to a protective spirit. During their hunt, the Inuit take measures to preform a proper ceremony for the animals that they have killed, since they believe in preserving its soul.  The Inuit discipline and teach their children morals in ways that are uncommon to most ways that we as Americans believe to be helpful. They act aggressively at the same as loving them; actions that they believe strengthen the child by making them independent. They also play games with the child's emotions by issuing questions that force the child become aware of danger, and helps create a protective instinct towards one's family (For example: Why don't you hit your baby brother? ; this question would make a child think, "I don't hit him because he is my brother, and I protect my family").
 * Behaviors **

**2)** Perhaps the greatest change of all in the Inuit as time has progressed in the modernization of the younger generations of Inuit people. In past years, respect ad communication with one's community and elders was held as the greatest of possible morals to teach a child. With modern music, clothing, and media outlets progressively finding their way into the communities, more teenagers are losing the once strong Inuit values. The younger generation is losing their ability to speak the native Inuktitut language, which has drastically limited their communication with the elder generation. This lack of communication has left the younger generation of Inuit people with less traditional knowledge. As well, the new wage economy has really impacted the Inuit way of life. Unemployment has been spreading quickly across communities, brought on by cross-cultural differences. This has impacted a large number of Inuit people.

**Sources**


 * 1) "Commonwealth art: Diverse style, similar sensibilities." Indo-Asian News Service [IANS] 29 Sept. 2010. InfoTrac Newsstand. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. (Newsprint) **

The article from a newspaper describes the culture of Inuit. It focuses largely on the art of the tribe, but also talks about multiple aspects of a culture that define the Inuit people.


 * 2) Gearheard, Shari. "A change in the weather: for generations Inuit have survived by closely observing the natural world. As the Arctic environment changes, their insights are informing science." Natural History Feb. 2008: 32+. Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 25 Jan. 2011.(Journal) **

This academic journal describes a man's visit to Qaanaaq, Greenland to experience and explain the climate that the Inuit people live in. This weather defines their culture as a people in aspects such as clothing, hunting styles, and households.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">3) "Inuit." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Ed. Jeneen Hobby and Timothy Gall. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 296-299. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. (Secondary Source) **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">This article talked about the daily life and culture of the Inuit. It breifly described each aspect of their culture, including religion, beliefs, and values.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">4) Qitsualik, Rachel Attituq. "Living with Change." Living with Change. Rachel Attituq Qitsualik, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://www.nunavut.com/nunavut99/english/change.html>. (Primary Source) **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">This article was written from a woman who was born and raised in an Inuit community as a child, and who wrote this article to describe the effects that cultural change has had on the Inuit people. The article briefly describes other aspects of Inuit life and culture, but serves as a good source for information about how the Inuit have adapted to change.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">5) Stenbaek, Marianne. "Forty Years of Change." Some Reflections 40.4. Forty Years of Cultural Change Among the Inuit in Alaska. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. (Primary Source) **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">This journal was much more in depth about the changes that the Inuit people have faced over the years. This again, served as an excellent source for answering the second question about changes.