The Inuit Population of the Canadian Arctic, Essay Example

The geography of a particular locations has the ability to influence its agriculture, economics, history, and culture. This is the case of the Inuit population of the Canadian arctic. According to a statistical study “Almost three-quarters of Inuit in Canada lived in Inuit Nunangat. Inuit Nunangat stretches from Labrador to the Northwest Territories and comprises four regions: Nunatsiavut, Nunavik, Nunavut and the Inuvialuit region” (Statistics Canada) Therefore, since the Inuit population in Canada lives in different areas, one could expect their lifestyles to be somewhat different.

As a whole, the Inuit lifestyle is impacted in their climate. This society is best known for making use of their knowledge of geometric shapes to achieve warmth from shelter in the arctic region. Furthermore, the nomadic Inuit tribes are known for hunting many animals that are native to this region and have become somewhat dependent upon these animals as food sources. Modern groups that have not continued the nomadic lifestyle continue to depend on these animals as food sources, as they are now kept domestically for use. A majority of modern Inuit lifestyle has derived from their ancestral activities as a way of preserving culture.

Interestingly, the economics of the region impacts the ability of the Inuit’s to preserve this culture. The lack of food is one factors that requires these people to seek elsewhere for food sources. However, economy less significantly impacts these individuals that other people living in Canada, as many Canadians are not able to obtain their own food sources so naturally. However, the Inuit continue to thrive in these situations because they have access to a large amount of land that make their survival possible.

Works Cited

Alia, Valerie. Names and Nunavut: Culture and Identity in Arctic Canada. Berghahn Books, 2009.

Briggs, Jean L. Never in Anger: Portrait of an Eskimo Family. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1971.

Crandall, Richard C. Inuit Art: A History. McFarland, 2000.

Statistics Canada. 2011. Web. 11 May 2015. <http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-011-x/99-011-x2011001-eng.cfm>