Sample study: Inuit of northern Canada (page 197)

Transcription

1 Sample study: Inuit of northern Canada (page 197) The Inuit are one of the three Indigenous groups of Canada. For many centuries, outsiders called them Eskimos. Inuit no longer find this term acceptable. They prefer the name by which they have always known themselves Inuit, which means the people in their own language, Inkuktitut. The Inuit population has begun to increase over the past few decades and is estimated to be (in the year 2000) spread across northern Canada. They live in small communities on bays, inlets and river mouths along the mainland coast, the Arctic islands and the delta of the Mackenzie River. The location of the major Inuit settlements in northern Canada is shown in [6.1]. Traditional life: a culture linked to the land Inuit origins in Canada date back at least 4000 years when they began to travel from central Asia, through north-eastern Russia and across the Bering Sea. Their culture is deeply rooted in the vast land they inhabit. Through their knowledge of the land, Inuit developed skills and technology especially adapted to one of the harshest and most demanding environments on Earth. Before the creation of permanent settlements in the 1940s and 1950s, Inuit moved with the seasons. They established summer and winter camps to which they returned each year. These seasonal camps enabled Inuit to use the resources of the land and sea at the times of the year when they were most abundant. [6.1] Major Inuit settlements in northern Canada and the recently created Nunavut Territory 150 W 100 W 50 W Arctic Ocean Baffin Bay Aklavik Yukon Tuktoyaktuk Inuvik Kugluktuk Cambridge Bay Pond Inlet Igloolik Pangnirtung N O RT Northwest Territories NUNAVUT Baker Lake Rankin Inlet Iqaluit H 50 N British Columbia Alberta Arviat Hudson Bay Manitoba Saskatchewan Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Newfoundland Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia km 1

2 [6.2] An Inuit mother and child in a traditional home Traditional Inuit life was based on fishing and hunting in and around the sea. The hunt was the key to survival. The sea provided seals, walruses, and whales, as well as fish. On the land there were animals like the caribou and musk ox to hunt. Hunting skills were passed on from one generation to another. Life was hard in the extremely cold conditions, but animals were mostly in plentiful supply and Inuit hunters only killed enough for their own needs. Animal products were their main source of food, clothing and fuel skins and fur were used for clothes and the fatty oils were used in lamps for heating. They developed highly specialised fishing and hunting techniques [6.3]. They used kayaks and umiaks (larger boats) made from animal skins to catch seals, walruses, polar bears and whales. On land they used sleds pulled by teams of Eskimo dogs. Inuit homes were called igloos and some were built out of blocks of ice, especially during winter [6.5]. Traditional dress consisted of watertight boots, double layered trousers and an inner and outer parka, all of which were made of skins and furs [6.6]. [6.3] A traditional Inuit fishing technique was to cut a hole in thin ice, watch the fish, then harpoon them [6.4] Traditional methods of hunting included the kayak (top) on water and the sled (bottom) used on icy land [6.5] An igloo is made from blocks of carved from the ice 2

3 [6.6] Traditional Inuit clothing was designed for the harsh polar climate in which they had to hunt and fish Outer clothing Inner clothing Inuit are well known for the construction and artistry of their carvings [6.7]. Some of the materials they used to construct these were ivory from walruses and whales, driftwood and whalebone. They also had many ceremonial dances and songs. Some songs were considered to be magical and could be sold or traded. Elders were respected for the wisdom they gained over the years their word was the unwritten law. Storytelling was a most important element in Inuit culture as it saved and enriched their language and culture [6.8]. All members of the Inuit family have a part in carrying out responsibilities in day-to-day life, whether large or small. [6.7] Totem poles have religious significance Did you know? Even today, their culture is kept alive by singing, carving, drawing and writing. [6.8] Storytelling provided a way of preserving Inuit language and culture 3

4 The contact period The early explorers of Canada s northern regions had made contact with Inuit from time to time over a period of some 300 years from the late 1500s. However, they made little impact. The arrival of whaling ships and fur traders early in the nineteenth century brought the beginnings of change to the traditional nomadic life of the Inuit [6.9]. By 1923 trading posts had been built along the shores of Hudson Bay. Gradually Inuit began to trade furs and skins for the white man s goods and their traditional nomadic life became less attractive to them. [6.9] Whaling in the 1800s was one of the first contact points between Inuits and Europeans Inuit today Apart from these encounters with hunters and some explorers, Inuit had very little contact with the rest of Canada until the 1940s. Since then there have been many changes to their traditional patterns: The Canadian government built towns of prefabricated houses and made Inuit people live in these instead of their seasonal camps [6.10]. By the 1970s, the new centralised settlements had become a permanent feature of Inuit life, with new schools and improved medical facilities. Machines have replaced dogs and other traditional transport snowmobiles provide transport over land and aluminium dinghies with outboard motors have replaced kayaks. The rifle has replaced the harpoon and spear. Inuit can now sell their excess catch. Despite these changes, Inuit try to maintain a harmonious relationship with the land, animals and plants. They use the resources of land and sea wisely to preserve them for future generations. Strict hunting traditions and rules help maintain this balance. An example of this is banning the killing of any animal in its mating season. 4

5 In the last sixty years, rapid developments in technology brought the Inuit people even closer to the civilised ways of the south. Developments in air travel, the construction of defence bases and weather stations, and the discovery of minerals have caused the Inuit people to make a dramatic and sometimes difficult transition from nomadic hunters to urban residents. Telephones, radio, television and computers are now part of Inuit possessions [6.11]. The plane has become the Arctic taxi, and most communities have their own airstrip. [6.10] Modern Inuit housing in prefabricated settlements [6.11] Which is better the old or the new? Adapting to change The Inuit people have had many problems adapting to change so quickly. There is almost a clash of old and new cultures. Old people want the traditional way of life back. They feel disillusioned. Elders claim that there are problems with the modern-day life such as alcoholism and unemployment. The younger generation are attempting to keep alive the primitive culture and traditions. However, they are also excited about the new way of life and the new wave of technology and change. The economy today Inuit work in all sectors of the economy, including mining, oil and gas, construction, government and administrative services. Many also still add to their income through hunting. Tourism is a growing industry in the Inuit economy. Inuit guides take tourists on dog sleds and hunting expeditions. About 30 per cent of Inuit derive part-time income from their sculpture, carving and print-making sold to tourists. Land claims and Indigenous rights There is a system of land rights in Canada. This is the result of Indigenous groups such as Inuit occupying and using the land over a long period of time. The rights of certain Indigenous people to hunt, trap and fish on ancestral lands are examples. These rights vary from group to group depending on the customs, practices, and traditions that have formed part of their distinctive cultures. Since the mid-1970s, the Inuit people have negotiated several detailed land claims with the Canadian federal government. 5

6 F A C T F I L E Nunavut Total population of Nunavut: Total Inuit population of Nunavut: Total population of Canada: Total Inuit population of Canada: Snapshot: Nunavut Nunavut is the new territory that was created in the Canadian north on 1 April 1999 when the north-west territories were divided in two. Nunavut means our land in Inuktitut. Inuit, whose ancestors inhabited these lands for thousands of years, make up 80 per cent of the population of Nunavut. The new territory has its own state government. The Nunavut Land Claim Agreement passed through the Canadian parliament in June It is the largest native land claim settlement in Canadian history. It provided title to square kilometres of land in the eastern Arctic. The agreement laid out clear rules of ownership and control over land and resources in the new territory of Nunavut, an area one-fifth the size of Canada. The Nunavut Agreement The following are the features of the Nunavut Agreement: Title to approximately square kilometres of land, of which square kilometres include mineral rights. Equal representation of Inuit with government on a new set of wildlife management, resource management and environmental boards. The right to harvest wildlife on lands and waters throughout the Nunavut settlement area. Payment to the Inuit people of $1.148 billion over fourteen years. A $13 million Training Trust Fund. A share of federal government royalties for the Nunavut Inuit from oil, gas and mineral developments of crown lands. The creation of three new federally funded national parks. A form of self-government for the Nunavut Inuit. Learning about 1 Describe the traditional hunting and fishing lifestyle of the Inuit. 2 Use [6.1] to describe the location of the major Inuit settlements in northern Canada. 3 In what ways do Inuit try to maintain a harmonious relationship with the land, animals and plants today? 4 List some of the major changes Inuit have experienced due to technological development. 5 Explain the statement: there is almost a clash of old and new Inuit cultures. 6 List examples of industries that are part of the Inuit economy today. 7 Define Indigenous land rights. 8 When did Inuit first negotiate detailed land claims with the Canadian government? 9 What is Nunavut? 10 What percentage of Inuit make up the total Nunavut population? 11 Construct a mind map of the features of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement. 6

7 Learning to 1 Design a poster that shows the traditional way of life of Inuit on one half and the modern way of life on the other half. Use diagrams and cartoons where appropriate. 2 As a class, discuss what effects the Nunavut land claim could have for Indigenous groups in other countries. 3 Research on the internet some aspect of the Inuit and/or Nunavut and prepare a multimedia presentation on your findings to the class (or group). 7