9781422283561

2 Native American Cultures People of the Far North

T he far north of North America is often seen as a land of ice and snow. This is partly true, because the land is covered in snow for eight months of the year. The summers are short, but long enough for flowers to bloom and streams to run. The Inuit people live in this harsh environment, hunting seals and fishing in the freezing Arctic waters. Their way of life is totally adapted to life in the cold: they build houses from ice; travel on sledges pulled by hardy dogs and fish in boats (called umiaks and kayaks) made from animal bone and skin. The Inuit have always been strong believers in spirits that they think control and guide their lives. They pass down their beliefs from generation to generation through many stories and legends.

L ieutenant Hood, a British naval officer, painted this picture in 1820. It shows a Cree tent which has meat drying in the traditional way above a fire, as well as a more modern metal cooking pot.

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