Introduction to the Cultures of North American Aboriginal Peoples Arctic Region

Inhabitants  Not “Indians” –Difference based on physical differences:  Blood Types –ABO  Eskimo/Aleut peoples have percentages similar to Euro-Asian peoples  Indians lack antigen “B” –MN Blood Groups  Same similarities  Physical differences related to cold adaptation –Length of limbs –Breadth of trunk

Physical Anthropology Group Type O Type A Type B Type AB Eskimo (Alaska ) Indians (USA) Navajo Blackfo ot Czech  Modern groups in the Arctic form a group distinct from the rest of the Americas’ aboriginal inhabitants  This can be seen in a number of physiological and linguistic areas –Eskimo-Aleut languages are related to languages spoken in eastern Siberia and not to other languages of North America –Blood type distribution (see table) –Y-chromosome and mtDNA differences  32 Y-chromosome haplotypes  Appears to indicate relationship (Haplotype 31) with groups in central Siberia

Genetic distance between human populations based on research by Cavalii-Sforza

Regional Characteristics (1)  Arctic Arctic –Stretching from western Alaska across the entire continent to Greenland –Area north of the tree line –Classic tundra conditions during the Holocene.  Cold, desert-like conditions.  Growing season ranges from 50 to 60 days.  Average winter temperature is -34° C  Average summer temperature is 3-12° C  Yearly precipitation, including melting snow, is 1525 cm –Flora  Low shrubs, sedges (Cyperaceae), reindeer moss (Cladonia rangifera), liverworts (Hepaticae), and grasses  400 varieties of flowers  crustose and foliose lichen

Climate  No region more affected by climate  Long winters –Winter: Oct-May –Summer Jun-Sept  Wind  Relatively dry

Tundra (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge)

Coastal tundra

Arctic Fauna: Terrestrial Mammals  Terrestrial herbivores: –Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) [sob] –Musk oxen (Ovibus moschatus) [pižmoň] –Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) [zajíc polární] –Lemming (Synaptomys spp.) [lumík]  Terrestrial carnivores –Wolf (Canis lupus) –Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) [liška polární]

Arctic Fauna: Marine Mammals (1)  Seals (true/eared) –Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) tuleň gronský  Adult males grow to about 1.7 m and 130 kg; females are smaller –Ringed seal (Phoca hispida) tuleň kroužkovaný  Adult ringed seals are cm in length and weigh kg –Ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata) tuleň pruhovaný  Adult ribbon seals average cm in length and kg in weight –Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) tuleň vousatý  Adult seals are m in length, and weigh about kg –Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) mrož  Atlantic walrus males average 3.0 m in length and weigh approximately kg. Pacific walrus males are somewhat larger, averaging 3.2 m and approximately 1200 kg. Females are generally smaller –Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) lachtan medvědí  Adult male 2 m, kg. Average adult female 1.3 m, kg

Arctic Fauna: Marine Mammals (2)  Whales (toothed/baleen – ozubení/kosticovici) –Beluga (Didelphinapterus leucas) běluha  Adults measure m and weigh kg –Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) narval  Adults: m, kg, tooth: 2-3 m in length –Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) plejtvákovec šedý  Adults are m long and weigh about 33,000 kg –Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) velryba biskajská  Adults are m long and weigh about 54,000 kg –Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) velryba gronská  Adults are m long and weigh 72-91,000 kg  Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) medvěd lední –Male polar bears grow two to three times the size of female polar bears –Males weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg and are about m long –Females about 150 to 250 kg and are about 2 to 2.5 m

Diversity and Density  Western Arctic – highest diversity  Central Arctic – lowest diversity and density  Eastern Arctic – in between  Stone tools: –No suitable raw materials for chipped stone –Emphasis on ground stone tools (slate)  Extensive use of bone and ivory tools

Knives  Left: Ulu (woman’s knife) made of ground slate in a bone handle  Right: Man’s knife made from ivory

Oil lamps  Only source of light and heat  Fuel is blubber (fat of sea mammals)  Used for melting snow for water  Heating water for tea  Not sufficient for cooking

Other technology

Human mobility  Summer – restricted to water –Reduced mobility –Kyak –Umiak  Winter – on land and sea (frozen) –Increased mobility –Dog sled

Umiak

Inuit kayak (max. length 5 m) kayak

More kyaks

Kayak Kayak loaded with sealskin float, weapons, etc. Kayak

Sled Sled (toy) Sled

Dog sled team

House TypesHouse Types - Summer House Types  Simple whalebone or driftwood frame  Covered in animal skins

House Types - winter  W. & E. Arctic –Semisubterranean sod houses –Snow houses only used for short term living  C. Arctic –Snow houses used longer term

Seasonal residence patterns  Western Arctic –Summer village  people  Whaling –Winter dispersal  Nuclear family groups  Central Arctic –Summer dispersal –Winter village  people

Winter Village  Engraving from Frobisher expedition in 16 th century

Diet  Meat  Blubber/fat –No/minimal cooking  Vitamnins  Berries in summer –Cloudberry  An amber-colored relative of the raspberry  Grows on very small bushes

Nerkraitorvik  Hunting companions –Each hunter has 12 –Each of the 12 is referred to by a specific part of the seal –When a hunter kills a sea he exchanges that part with his named partner –Not necessary to participate in hunt to make claim

Division of Labor  Men –Hunting –Fishing –Butchering kills away from camp  Women –Butchering kills in camp –Preparation of clothing  Tanning leather  Sewing –Family duties  Both –Shamanism –Spiritual activities