The Inuit do not represent a very large population, only 160,000 or so, spread over a very large portion of the Arctic region and located in four different countries. Although they are a "people," there are many variations from one group to the next, and any study of them must consider both similarities and differences. The Historical Dictionary of the Inuit introduces us to the Inuit as they actually are and not as they have been traditionally pictured and some would still like to see them-looking after their traditional chores and engaged in time-honored practices-but rather as a modern people trying to shape their worlds in their own interest. This second edition includes an updated chronology, as well as an introduction to provide a broader view of who the Inuit are, where they live, and what they do. But it is the dictionary section that is most interesting, with many new informative entries on persons, places, events, and institutions, shedding light not only on the culture but also on the society, economy, and politics. For those seeking further information, there is a considerably expanded bibliography. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Inuit.

The approximately 150,000 Inuit are indigenous to four nations Denmark (Greenland), Canada, the United States (Alaska), and Russia and thus have had very different colonial experiences and participate as citizens of those nations in different ways. Far from being victims of colonialism, Inuit are actively involved in shaping their social environments. Nonetheless, modern social and political realities present Inuit with many of the same issues faced by distinct peoples around the world. This volume describes how Inuit as a single people, citizens of separate nations, and residents of individual communities deal with education, language rights, self-government and self determination, the militarization of their lands and their lives, climate change and pollution, and globalization. This work presents an overview of the Inuit peoples of the Circumpolar North. Unlike other works that focus on traditional Inuit cultures, this work documents the social, political, and economic history of Inuit as part of a globalized world. The work contains information on traditional Inuit cultures, but with special emphasis placed on the recent history of Inuit communities. More than 450 dictionary entries cover issues of society, economy, and politics; influential educators, writers, environmentalists, and politicians; and the many voluntary associations and governmental agencies that have played a role in Inuit history. The introductory essay, chronology, and well-developed bibliography make this an ideal reference source for the researcher or student.

This wide-ranging treatment of daily life in the contemporary Inuit communities of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland reveals the very modern ways of being Inuit. Daily Life of the Inuit is the first serious study of contemporary Inuit culture and communities from the post-World War II period to the present. Beginning with an introductory essay surveying Inuit prehistory, geography, and contemporary regional diversity, this exhaustive treatment explores the daily life of the Inuit throughout the North American Arctic—in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Twelve thematic chapters acquaint the reader with the daily life of the contemporary Inuit, examining family, intellectual culture, economy, community, politics, technology, religion, popular culture, art, sports and recreation, health, and international engagement. Each chapter begins with a discussion of the historical and cultural underpinnings of Inuit life in the North American Arctic and describes the issues and events relevant to the contemporary Inuit experience. Leading sources are quoted to provide analysis and perspective on the facts presented.