Eskimos-The Mysterious People | Lifestyle of Eskimos |How Eskimos survive| Do Eskimos live like earlyman

The people whom we call ESKIMOS, lived in some of the world's coldest areas near the Arctic circle. It is believed that people originally belonged to Asia. From Asia, they migrated into the part of North America that is now known by the name Alaska. Then they gradually moved across the other Arctic regions of the continent and eventually came to live in four countries - The Soviet Union, Alaska in the United States of America, Canada, and Greenland.

Eskimos of all these regions share similar physical characteristics. They have light brown skin, straight black hair, dark eyes, and a wide face. Their features are Mongolian, such as high cheekbones, small noses and often slanting eyes. However, they are taller than the Mongolians and are long skulled, unlike the Mongolians.

Life in the Arctic circle is by no means an easy one. The Eskimos were able to survive there because they possessed extraordinary hardiness which enabled them to live where nobody else can.

Very few of us know about the harsh conditions in the Arctic. Climatically the Arctic is characterized by two features- short cool summer and winter that vary in rigor and darkness. Summers are short and cool. There is no tree in the Arctic as there is always a thick layer of permanently frozen ground even at the height of summer. This frozen layer remains on the upper part of the soil even during summer and prevents the existence of plant life.

On the other hand, animal life is abundant in the Arctic. Sea mammals like the seal, walrus live in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. On land are found animals like polar bears. the arctic fox, the snow hare, the caribou, and the musk ox. It is upon these animals that the Eskimo has based his entire life; he feeds on their meat, he makes his clothes, his bed, his boats, and his summer tent. Most of his utensils are also made from the bones and teeth of these animals.

Besides all these, the Eskimos make use of the millions of sea birds and waterfowl that inhabit the cliffs and islands along the arctic coasts. The conditions in the Arctic have forced the Eskimos to follow a 100 per cents non-vegetarian diet. The very word Eskimo means, 'eaters of raw meat.' This is of course not strictly true for Eskimo does eat cooked food also. Nevertheless, it has to be mentioned that Eskimos are entirely dependent on the availability of meat from land, sea, and air.

Eskimos were forced to live a wandering life because it was not possible to hunt for food at any single place. The smallest deviation from the usual, as for instance, a change in availability of the seals meant starvation for them. The migratory nature of their life was also the reason why they built both a summer and a winter home. Tents made of skin(seal or caribou) provided shelter during the summer months. In winter they lived in igloos, which are domed shaped snow houses built as a temporary shelter when they were traveling or hunting.


Eskimos hunt on dog sleds and carry animals skins on their sleds. These are used as night covers or windbreakers. While hunting they carry knives, spears, hooks, and some frozen fish as food.

The clothing used by the Eskimos consists of a hooded jacket, trousers or leggings, socks, boots, and mittens; all these are a must if the Eskimo is to survive in the Arctic. Though garments are made from the skin of the seal, polar bear, or even Arctic fox, the skin of the caribou is preferred because it is both warm and lightweight. In winter, two sets of clothes are generally used; the inner layer would have fur next to the skin and the second layer would have fur on the outside. This help's to keep the air trapped between the two layers, allowing perspiration to evaporate, while at the same time keeping the body warm. A single layer of clothing is sufficient during the summers.

Among the Eskimos, there is a clear division of labor. The man's role is to hunt food, drive the dog sled, row the boat and build a sled, row the boat, and build shelters. The most important duty of the wife is to make the family's clothing and this had to be both warm and windproof. Besides this, the women look after the children, cook for the family and sometimes even help her husband with his duties. However, Eskimo men and women treat each other as equals.

Eskimos have very simple rules of conduct. One of their rules is that all members should help each other in the struggle for life; the second rule is that each person should live peacefully with others.

There were no structured religions among the Eskimos, but they had great faith in spirits. Traditionally they believed that spirits controlled the wind, weather, sun, water, and the moon. the sea goddess Sedna was the most important of these spirits. She was supposed to live at the bottom of the oceans
and rule over sea animals. As the Eskimos were totally dependent on these animals for food, they thought that Sedna would drive away these four-legged creatures if they did not please her by following certain rules. That could be the reason why the religion of Eskimos was sometimes referred to as Animism.

Eskimos believed in life after death. When a person died his or her body was wrapped in skins and carefully kept in a solitary spot. Tools and other items would be placed next to the body and this was meant for use in the next world.

Today the Eskimos life is very different. The white men have been moving into the Eskimo country
to dig mines, drill oil wells, build airports and weather stations. The ancient culture of the Eskimos has seen many changes within the last twenty years. Most of the people live in towns or small settlements. They do not wear animal skins but use modern clothing. Modern houses have replaced the igloos and they eat food purchased from stores. Instead of kayaks and umiaks, they use motorboats; snowmobiles have replaced dog sleds. Many have renounced the native religion and have got converted to Christianity. A large number of Eskimos now work for wages, but a substantial number are unemployed and require government help to live.

Here is a short description of Eskimos' life in the four countries in which they live. In the Soviet Union, at present, there are nearly 1500 Eskimos living on the northeast tip of Siberia. The communist government took control of all the Eskimo communities living in their country. Housing, education, and health care are provided and the Eskimos are encouraged to produce goods for sale throughout the country. The reindeer hides, walrus tusks, and bone and soapstone carvings are produced by the Eskimos.

In Alaska, the Eskimos population is approximately 42000. By 1924, they became U.S.citizens. during World War II, they worked at U.S. military bases; after that, they took up part-time jobs. Many of them depend on government support to improve their living conditions. Even though education is open to them and they are encouraged to study, most of the Eskimo children do not finish high school.

Canada's Eskimo population is about 25,000. These people did not change much till the 1950s when the fur trade declined and the number of caribou decreased after rifle use increased. The Canadian government then assisted the Eskimos by developing commercial fishing cooperatives and handicrafts. The government provides assistance with financial aid for health care.

Another place where the Eskimos had settled was Greenland. It is now a province of Denmark. Now there are nearly 50,000 Eskimos. A change in climate warmed the coastal waters and this drove the seals away but attracted the cod, salmon, and other fish. The Danish government has provided them with improved education, housing, and health care and provides training for jobs in the manufacturing and service industries.

The Eskimos who live in northern Greenland still follow the traditional pattern of life. They are still in a position to go hunting as there are still follow the traditional pattern of life. They are still in a position to go hunting as there are plenty of wild animals like polar bears, foxes, and rabbits. In the streams, there are eagles, snowy owls, and geese flying in the air.

Industrialization and modernization have definitely changed life for the Eskimos a great deal. Very soon it will be difficult to believe that such hardy people ever existed. They deserve a great deal of respect, not only for being able to stay alive in severe conditions but also for developing a spiritual and economic culture where no other human being could live.