Not Eskimos: 10 Enlightening Facts About the Inuit

If you are planning to join an Arctic cruise, you might be intrigued by the Inuit culture. To help you gain a deeper understanding of these people, especially if you are considering a trip to Greenland, here are 10 fascinating facts about the Inuit that everyone should know.

1. Inuit prefer to be called Inuk or Inuit - but not Eskimo

Although the term "Eskimo" has become widespread, it is not the preferred name for the Inuit and does not reflect their cultural heritage. The term is believed to have been coined by either the French or Danish, meaning either “snow-shoe netter” or “meat eater.” Today, many Inuit people consider the word Eskimo to be a racial slur. When speaking with someone from an Inuit tribe, it is best to avoid this term. Remember, "Inuit" is used for plural, and "Inuk" is singular.

2. Greenland’s population is primarily Inuit

As of 2012, 89 percent of Greenland's population was Inuit, amounting to approximately 51,349 people. Most of them reside in the southwestern part of the country. There are three main Inuit groups: Inughuit, Tunumiit, and Kalaallit. About 10 percent of the Inuit live in remote areas, each group having its own language.

3. Rubbing noses is not an Inuit form of kissing

The term "Eskimo kiss" is widely known, but it is a misconception. Inuit do not rub noses to kiss. Instead, they greet their loved ones by smelling each other’s cheeks and hair, a gesture known as kunik.

4. The ancient Inuit made armor

When thinking of armor, one might picture knights in steel. The ancient Inuit, lacking access to steel, created their own armor from raw leather straps and bone plates, often using walrus teeth. This innovative design helped them survive many dangerous encounters.

5. Inuit art has a long history

Visitors to Greenland often seek to buy original Inuit art, such as the tupilak. Historically, tupilaks were carved from bone and believed to possess witchcraft powers to harm enemies. Today, they are crafted from materials like wood, narwhal tusks, or reindeer horns and sold as souvenirs, no longer associated with witchcraft.

6. Inuit folklore is incredibly extensive

Like all cultures, the Inuit have a rich folklore. One notable mythological creature is the Qallupilluk, a monster said to live underwater and drag children to an icy grave. These stories were used to keep children from wandering too far.

7. Igloos are not just Inuit snow huts

The word "igloo" often brings to mind dome-shaped snow huts, but it actually refers to any type of dwelling. Whether you live in a mansion or an apartment, you reside in an igloo by this definition.

8. The Inuit don't have hundreds of words for snow

The misconception that the Inuit have hundreds of words for snow originated from anthropologist Franz Boas in the 19th century. The Inuit language uses complex sentence structures, allowing single words to convey detailed meanings, such as "aqilokoq" for “softly falling snow.” There are only believed to be three root words for snow.

9. The Inuit diet is rapidly expanding

In Greenland, 11 percent of the population is not Inuit, exposing the Inuit to new dining options. Despite this, their traditional diet, primarily consisting of meat and fish, remains largely unchanged due to the difficulty of accessing vegetables and fruit in cold, remote areas.

10. Inuit have inventive forms of transportation

Living in snowy regions necessitates efficient transportation methods. Early Inuit tribes invented qamutiks (dogsleds) and qajaqs (kayaks). Larger groups traveled by umiaqs. These sleds and vessels were made from wood and whale bones.