The etymological origin of the Eskimo term we can establish that it is found in the language of the Abenaki Indians, natives of Canada, and that it was formed from several words of that such as “-imo-”, which means “to eat”; “ask”, which is synonymous with “raw”, and “amekw”, which can be translated as “fish”.
Hence, originally and literally it could be said that Eskimo means "he who eats raw fish."
Eskimo is the name given to a people whose members reside in the Arctic area of North America , Asia and Greenland . According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), it is a community of Mongolian race. The family of languages spoken by the different communities of this town is also called Eskimo.
There are two large ethnic groups that make up the Eskimo group: the Inuit and the Yupik . Today there are Inuit and Yupik settlements in regions of countries such as the United States , Canada , Denmark and Russia .
The Eskimos are believed to have originated in Siberia . Crossing the Bering Strait , they reached North America . The Eskimos, due to their biological and cultural characteristics, are prepared to reside in very cold areas , surrounded by ice .
The Eskimos usually live by hunting whales, seals, bears and other animals . By following their prey on their migrations, they are nomadic people. The members of these groups seek to make the most of the animals they hunt, both for food, clothing and the construction of tools and even homes.
Eskimos often travel on sleds that are driven by dogs on ice and snow. The breeds used for this task are grouped as huskies . As a means of aquatic locomotion, on the other hand, the Inuit use kayaks .
It should be noted that the Inuit build ice dwellings known as igloos . An igloo can be a temporary shelter during hunting season or a permanent residence. These structures, made up of blocks, are dome-shaped.
Some more interesting facts about the Eskimos are the following:
-The first contact they are believed to have had with Europeans occurred in the year 1100 with the arrival of the Vikings.
-The interior of the igloos is heated with seal fat or oil fire.
-Sometimes, the Eskimos build igloos connected with different types of tunnels so that different families can live together.
-They drink very little water and consume tiny amounts of fruit and vegetables.
-In winter they live in areas where it is practically nighttime 24 hours a day, the complete opposite of what happens to them in summer when they have permanent light.
-They ingest up to 75% proteins and fats.
-They are recognized, among other things, because they tend to have a chubbier and rounder face. And this is not a consequence of their diet but simply of a necessary adaptation to the cold since it is the area they have that is most in contact with it.