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Eskimo

Eskimo is another word for Inuit. They mainly live by hunting and fishing. Some Eskimos live so far north there are no roads that go there so they go to a nearby runway where airplanes can land. Eskimos have 49 words for snow and ice. Eskimos had no written language until the mid-1900's. There are no written records of these prehistoric times. Eskimos had no idea how to use money until the white people came. There had been no need for money or private property for 4,000 years. Eskimo children were punished and hit with sticks if they spoke their native tongue while in school or in church. That was a long time ago.

Endurance Racing

One famous race in 1925 covered almost 1,126 kilometers. Endurance racing was not a sports event. Some endurance races run up to 400 to 480 kilometers. Some races are not just for fun. Some are for saving other people. For instance, some racers went from Nenana, Alaska, to a hospital in Nome carrying medicine. Togo and Balto became famous for their brave role in that race. With temperatures at minus 10 degrees Celsius, sled- dog drivers ran relays, each team taking turns carrying the medicine. The trail ran over mountains, across the frozen sea and through horrible snow storms.

Eskimo Food

Meat and blubber were the main food of the Eskimo diet. Without it, people could not live. The Eskimos spent little time cooking. Raw meat was much harder to digest but provided valuable nutrients. The family ate sitting in a circle around the pot.