Inuit

Inuit are one of three distinct groups of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. They are the original inhabitants of the Arctic - a land rich in history and culture.

Inuit refer to their homeland as "Inuit Nunaat," which is made up of four regions in the Canadian Arctic: the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (Northwest Territories), Nunavut, Nunavik (northern Quebec) and Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador). Approximately 55,000 Inuit live on these lands, which equates to approximately one third of Canada's land mass.

Inuit homelands also span international borders; Inuit live in Alaska (USA), Greenland and Chukotka (Russia). Internationally, the Inuit population is approximately 150,000.

Inuit culture is intrinsically linked to the environment and Inuit oral history. Traditional beliefs hold that humans, animals, plants - and even the cosmos - are equally connected. This connectedness has allowed Inuit to survive and thrive in an environment often characterized as harsh - an environment that, to Inuit, is home.

Inuit means "the people" in the Inuit language. It is what Inuit have always called themselves. The name "Eskimo," adopted by European explorers, is no longer used.

The Inuit language has many dialects. One is called "Inuktitut," which means "like the Inuit." It is used in many parts of Inuit Nunaat, within Canada and across international borders.

For more information about the Inuit in Canada, please visit Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.