Inuit Learning

Inuit — Inuktitut for “The People”

This Quizizz will take you through a brief explanation of the Inuit culture and traditions and is a lesson you can use in the classroom with your students.

Learning Expectations

•     I-A1. Inuit as a distinct cultural identity from the First Nations and Métis (for example, unique history, language, cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs)

•     I-A2. Traditional areas where Inuit people live

•     I-A7. Family structures among the Inuit people and their variations

•     I-A8.        the different regional dialects of the Inuktitut language and their distinctness from each other (for example, Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun)

Inuit - A Distinct Culture

• The Inuit were the last Native People to arrive to Canada

• The Inuit homeland is known as Inuit Nunangat, which refers to the land, water and ice contained in the Arctic region.

• The Inuit represent 3.9 percent of the total Indigenous population of Canada.

• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit

 The Inuit respect for the land is “immeasurable” 

• The majority of Inuit inhabit the northern regions of Canada. However, Inuit also live in the eastern coast of present day Russia, across Alaska, and the East Coast of Greenland.

• Inuit are masters at adapting in vast and harsh arctic territories and have sustained their people for over thousands of years.

• Historically, the Canadian Inuit were divided into eight main groups: Labrador Inuit, Ungava or New Quebec Inuit, Baffin Island, Igloolik, Caribou, Netsilik, Copper and Western Arctic Inuit.

• http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit1.html

Multiple Choice

Inuit is Inuktitut for:

• The person

• The people

• The land of ice

• The northern land

Multiple Choice

Inuit Nunangat refers to:

• The land of the people in the Arctic Region

• The land, and animals in the Arctic Region

• The land, water and ice in the Arctic Region

Multiple Choice

The Inuit represent what percentage of the Indigenous Population in Canada?

• 2.4 percent

• 3.9 percent

• 4 percent

• 7.1 percent

Multiple Choice

True or False. The Inuit live in the eastern coast of present day Russia, across Alaska, and Canada to the east coast of Greenland.

• True

• False

Fill in the Blanks

Historically, the Canadian Inuit were divided into

main groups.

The Inuit Language - Unique to their Culture

• The Inuit language is called Inuktitut.

• In Canada, there are five main dialects: Inuvialuktun (Inuvialuit region in the Northwest Territories); Inuinnaqtun (western Nunavut); Inuktitut (eastern Nunavut dialect); Inuktitut (Nunavik dialect); and Nunatsiavumiuttut (Nunatsiavut).

• All dialects of the Inuktitut language are quite hard to learn and speak. They are very complex languages but can still be understood and conversed to some extent amongst all the different dialects from the different regions.

• As a whole, 83.9 percent of Inuit reported conversational ability in an Inuit language.

• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit

The Importance of Language

• "We are very concerned with the need to maintain our language, and not just as an expression of our cultural heritage. Our language can also be adapted to the workplace and used as a powerful tool for helping to build our new political, economic and social systems through self-government. It has been said that our language is powerful and it must be used to give many great thoughts to the world. Our language must also be protected and provided with an opportunity to grow."

• http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/ViewLoitLo.do?method=preview&lang=EN&id=10654

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Multiple Choice

In Canada, how many main dialects are there of the Inuktitut language?

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

Multiple Choice

What percentage of Inuit reported conversational ability in an Inuit language?

• 79%

• 83.9%

• 94.8%

• 98.1%

Family - The most important social unit in Inuit Culture

• Inuit values involve sharing food, sharing possessions, caring for family, and cooperating with each other.

• Marriage is also very important in Inuit culture. Some were arranged but majority are by choice.

• Families are typically around 5-6 people. Each family lives and hunts together with 6-10 other families.

• In the family, the men typically build the houses, hunt, and fish. While, the women typically cook, dress the animal skins, make clothing, and look after the children.

• Traditionally, winter is when you spend time with your family, tell stories, play games, and learn about Inuit oral history and Inuit legends.

• http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit6.html

Elders - Wisdom of Generations

• Elders were closely connected to the cycles of the land and the customary practices of Inuit society. They are known to have absorbed the collective knowledge of the Inuit ancestors.

• Their traditions represent a connection to the Inuit past and their values influence the decisions about the future.

• Elders played and continue to play an important role. They are seen as traditional Inuit leaders who are reliable, hospitable, and fair in their daily dealings and treatment of other people. 

• "They are historians, philosophers, professors, and knowledge keepers of tradition and heritage" (Owlijoot, 2008). 

• Owlijoot, P. (with Nunavut Arctic College). (2008). Guidelines for working with Inuit Elders. Iqaluit, NU: Nunavut Arctic College.

The Spirit World

• The Inuit believe in animism - all living and non-living things have a spirit. When a spirit dies, it continues living in the spirit world.

• Events such as bad weather, illnesses, and a bad hunt are blamed on displeasing the spirits.

• In order to keep the spirits pleased, there are guidelines for the Inuit people to follow. The only people powerful enough to control the spirits were known as the Shamans or 'Angakoks'

• Shamans used charms and dances as a way to communicate with the spirit world.

• One of the most important spirits in Inuit culture is the Goddess of the Sea, Sedna. If the Inuit make her happy, they will continue to be provided with food.

• http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit5.html

Multiple Choice

Which season is known for spending time with family?

• Summer

• Fall

• Winter

• Spring

Multiple Choice

Whose values influence the decisions about the future?

• The men

• The women

• The Shamans

• The Elders

Multiple Choice

Animism is:

• The rituals for hunting and eating food to deal with the spirits that lived in the animals.

• The belief that all living and non-living things have a spirit.

• The belief that if Inuit make the spirit happy, they would continue to provide them with food.

• The people powerful enough to control the spirits.

Ressources

• http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit5.html

• https://gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/2010-2014-elders_strategy.pdf

• Owlijoot, P. (with Nunavut Arctic College). (2008). Guidelines for working with Inuit Elders. Iqaluit, NU: Nunavut Arctic College.

• https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/inuit

• http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/Login.do?method=load