Gabe Menchaca
10/28/14
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The Inuit and Abenaki Indians
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| The North Slope of Alaska |
The Inuit and the Abenaki indians were two pivotal indian groups that even though separated from each other, still shared common practices that are still alive today. The main characteristic that differed between these two tribes is the location at which they based their tribe. The inuits lived on the North Slope region of Alaska, which begins along the northern edges of the massive Brooks Range Mountains, sloping gently downward to the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The Abenaki indians on the other hand lived In Maine east of New Hampshire's White Mountains, while some also lived in the mountains across Vermont and New Hampshire spreading to the shores of Lake Champlain. There was not a large population difference between the two, with the Inuits numbering 30,000 and the Abenaki amounting to 40,000. The reason there is a 10,000 person difference is the severe changing of climate. With the Inuit people, who lived in Alaska, their climate was very chilly and reached well beyond negative degrees and rarely came any higher than the 50’s; whilst the Abenaki indians from Maine had cold winters and warm summers along with long periods of warmth or cold, thus making it easier to live the life the Abenaki indians maintained.
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| Mother Carrying her child in her hood |
To try and combat the harsh weather of both climates the indians of both tribes had specialized clothing that they wore to protect themselves from the elements. The inuits cold climate made them adapt by wearing many layers of clothing, most made out of the furs of animals for extra heat, and winter coats called parkas to fight off the cold. The Inuits favorite animal to wear were the Caribou and seal, as these two provided the most warmth but they also enjoyed wearing the intestines of mammals for the sole purpose of keeping water out. Another fact about the Inuits as that the mothers carried their children in the hoods on their coats for the first years of the childs life, much like kangaroos. The Abenakis had a much wider assortment of clothing because they lived in a climate that was more forgiving. Most men in the Abenaki culture wore breechcloths accompanied by leather leggings as everyday wear, as the women of the culture wore deerskin skirts along with breechcloths. Both genders wore poncho like blouses and when the weather got cold that wore pointed hood jackets to maintain body heat. Both tribe also wore ceremonial headbands with feathers in them for special rituals and activities.
The most common attribute that both tribes shared were their beliefs and religion. Both tribes had shamans that acted as a gateway to talk with the dead or conduct ritualistic dances and ceremonies. Each tribe also had a shaman doctor that healed people of their ailments and gave out herbal medication. They both believed in Animism which is the belief that every living and non-living thing has a soul. That included people, animals, inanimate objects, and forces of nature.When a spirit died, it continued living in a different world- the spirit world.The shamans were used to communicate with the spirit world and thus they were considered leaders of the tribe. Along with this both tribes wore masks and charms during rituals to please the spirits. The masks of the Inuit tribe were usually made of whalebone or ivory harvested from walrus tusks, while the Abenaki tribe made their masks out of driftwood and stone. Both tribes made charms from beads and items considered lucky to that person, they believed having rituals with the charms on would enchant them with supernatural power and protect the owner.
In order to construct these masks and omens the tribes had artists build them using tools such as, chisels and paint made out of berries.
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| Sculpture made by Inuit indians |
The inuits favorite artistic style was carving, in which they would use bone, ivory and stone to make people, animals or spirits of their land and culture. They enjoyed weaving baskets out of the grass that they collected on the plains. The Abenaki indians had much different art styles as they had more objects readily available than the Inuits did. They stitched with thread made from the ligaments and skin of animals. They sewed beads onto their clothing with needles made of bone. The Abenakis also enjoyed making pottery that resembled important figures in their culture. The only artistic style they share with the Inuits was weaving and carving.
Considering the enormous climate and distance between these two tribes it is amazing that they both shared such similarities in their everyday life. Along with doing the majority of things the same way they both lived off the land and cared for their surroundings, which to me is the most important characteristic that they shared.
Citations:
INUITS
Crystal, Ellie. "Inuit - Crystalinks." Inuit - Crystalinks. Crystallinks, 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Findlay, Heather. "The Arctic People - Groups in This Region." The Arctic People - Groups in This Region. Ed. Anna Sajecki and Melissa Bremer. Canadas First Peoples, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.
Searles, Edmund (Ned). "INUIT IDENTITY IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC." JSTOR. University of Pittsburgh- Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, 2008. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
"Inuits." - World Directory of Minorities. The Gale Group, 2008. Web. 27 Oct. 2014
"Map of the North Slope of Alaska Picture and Details." Map of the North Slope of Alaska Picture and Details. Graphic Maps, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
ABENAKIS
Bragdon, Kathleen. "American Anthropologies." JSTOR. American Anthropological Association, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Casali, Carolyn. "Countries and Their Cultures." Religion and Expressive Culture. Advameg, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Dunay, Henry. " Abenaki IndiansEastern AbenakiWestern Abenaki." Abenaki Indians. AAA Native Arts, 2008. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Houghton Mifflin. "History Study Center - Home Page." History Study Center - Home Page. Encyclopedia of North American Indians, 1996. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
Sultzman, Lee. "Abenaki." Abenaki. Lee Sultzman, 2005. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
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