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The Inuit People Facts & Worksheets

The Inuit people are an indigenous group of people who reside in Canada, Greenland, Denmark, and the United States.

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The Inuit people are an indigenous group of people who reside in Canada, Greenland, Denmark, and the United States. They are known for residing in northern climates with extremely cold and harsh weather conditions.

See the fact file below for more information on the Inuit people or alternatively, you can download our 23-page The Inuit People worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND & HISTORY

  • The Inuit people originally came from Western Alaska around 1000 BBCE.
  • Inuit people are distinctly different from other indigenous groups such as the Metis or the Iroquois.
  • In order to survive in such difficult climates the Inuit people are known to build and reside in snow houses called “igloos.”
  • Inuit people are known for their ability to adapt and survive in harsh northern climates. They have learned how to survive off of the frozen land by hunting a wide array of northern wildlife.

BACKGROUND AND PRE-CONTACT HISTORY

  • The Inuit people are from a group of people called the “Thule People.” This group of people travelled from Western Alaska around 1000 BCE.
  • In Canada and Greenland, the Inuit people live above the Arctic Tree Line.
  • The Arctic Tree Line is a definitive edge in the north that separates two habitats, one where trees can grow and one where they cannot.
  • The most southern Inuit community in the world is located in Nunatsiavut, the northern section of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.
  • In 1350 AD a period known as “The Little Ice Age” took place. This caused the Inuit living in the high Arctic in Canada and Greenland to relocate to more southern locations. The Little Ice Age did not affect the Inuit people living in Alaska at that time.
  • The Inuit people are known as hunters, fishermen, and colonists of the northern seas and tundras.
  • The Inuit people were previously referred to as “Eskimo” however this term is no longer used as it is now considered to be a racial slur.
  • Inuit people are known to reside in igloos also known as snow houses. In summer months they have been known to reside in hand built cabins.
  • The Inuit people residing in Greenland were believed to have travelled from Canada in 1100 BCE.
  • Inuit culture is traditionally passed down by the elders of the community.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Due to extremely harsh and long winters, starvation has been a serious concern for Inuit people.
  • Deaf Inuit people speak “Inuit Sign Language.” This is a dying language as only 50 people today are known to still speak it.
  • A member of an Inuit community is called an “Inuk.”
  • There are 148,000 Inuit people living today.
  • Inuit people reside in four countries: Canada, Greenland, Denmark, and the United States.

POST-CONTACT HISTORY

  • The first European contact with the Inuit people was with the Vikings in Greenland and the eastern coast of Canada.
  • The Inuit people living in Labrador Canada have had the longest relationship with Europeans.
  • In 1576 BCE a European Explorer named Martin Frobisher landed in Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island. There he captured and brought back an Inuit person to England.
  • Some records suggest that the Inuit people were not friendly with the early French and English settlers. However this information is unclear as other documents suggest the Inuit people worked with the French and English settlers to promote mutual trade interests.
  • Inuit people living in Canada had their first interaction with European colonists in the 17th century.
  • The Inuit people experienced mass death to their population as multiple diseases and illnesses were brought to them by the European people.
  • Inuit people residing further north continued to isolate themselves during the 19th century.

TRADITIONAL LAW

  • The Inuit people had their own set of beliefs and their own system of laws in place prior to any contact with European Settlers.
  • The Inuit people have three laws in place which need to be abided by.
  • “Maligait” is what is to be followed, “Piqujait” is what has to be done, and “Tirigusuusiit” is what needs to be avoided.
  • If a person went against tirigusuusiit, maligait or piqujait, the Angakkuq (shaman) would be called to intervene.
  • These laws were never written down, instead the Inuit people relied on the oral transmission of cultural beliefs, practices, and laws.
  • An “angakkuq” or Shaman was considered to be a spiritual person in the Inuit community.
  • Shamans have also been called spiritual mentors or a “Medicine Man.”
  • Shamans are believed to meditate with spirits of animals.

THE INUIT CULTURE – ART, LANGUAGE & GENDER ROLES

  • Inuit people speak a variety of languages including: Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, and Greenlandic languages.
  • The Inuit diet consists mainly of proteins and fats. Some of the animals they hunt today include whales, seals, birds, and fish.
  • Many plants will not grow in the north so the Inuit people eat what is available. Some of the plants they eat today include berries and seaweed.
  • To travel, Inuit people use a single person boat covered in seal skin which is called a “qajaq.” Today this design is called a “kayak.”
  • The Inuit people also used a boat called a “umiaq” which translates to “women’s boat.” This boat was made with wood frames and covered with animal skins.
  • An “umiaq” was used for transporting supplies, dogs, and people throughout the north.
  • When on land and frozen sea ice, the Inuit people use sled dogs to move around. The dog sled is called a “qamutik.”
  • The Inuit people dress warmly for the cold temperatures and make their clothing and footwear from various animal hides and bones.
  • The Inuit people wear a parka called an “anorak” and boots that are called “mukluk” or “kamik.”
  • Inuit people were known to participate in relationships with multiple people.

TRADITIONAL BELIEFS OF THE INUIT PEOPLE

  • The Inuit people have many spiritual traditions and have been known to engage in rituals.
  • Many Inuit people believed that the spirits of their ancestors could be seen in the lights of the Aurora Borealis (also known as the Northern Lights).
  • Inuit people believe in an old woman called “Sedna” who lived beneath the cold sea waters.
  • In other mythology, Sedna was the goddess of the Sea. She is also known as “Arnakuagsak.”

The Inuit People Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Inuit People across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use The Inuit People worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Inuit people who are an indigenous group of people who reside in Canada, Greenland, Denmark, and the United States. They are known for residing in northern climates with extremely cold and harsh weather conditions.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • The Inuit People Facts
  • Inuit Vocabulary
  • Mythology Design Challenge
  • True or False
  • The Frozen Crossword
  • Blinded by the Lights
  • Bubbles of Knowledge
  • Arctic Wordsearch
  • Fill In the Blank
  • Questions of an Observer
  • Building an Igloo

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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