The Eskimos are the people who have traditionally lived in the Arctic region. They call themselves 'Inuit' which means 'people'. The word "Eskimo" means 'people who eat raw meat' and it is a native American word. Traditionally, the Eskimos live in an igloo, a small house with its roof in the shape of a dome built from blocks of hard snow. They wear hooded jackets, pants and animals, like the seal, caribou and polar bear. They hunt with arrows and harpoons, eat the flesh of hunted animals and travel on seldges pulled by dogs.
But the modern Eskimos live in brick built modern houses; wear imported clothes made of animal skins, fur and other materials. They hunt with guns and eat foods available in the supermarkets. The Eskimos are the most widely spread tribal group in the world still leading a partly aboriginal way of life. They live in a region that spans more than 3500 miles, including Greenland the northern fringe of North America and a part of eastern Siberia. Eskimos are racially distinct from America Indians. They are closely related to the Mongolian people of eastern Asia. They have successfully adapted themselves to a cold, harsh climate because of their highly inventive skill.