ALASKAN ESKIMO EXPLOITATION OF THE SEA ICE ENVIRONMENT

Studies were conducted mainly at the Eskimo village of Wainwright, Alaska, with supplementary research done at Point Barrow and Point Hope. A primary aim was to gather information concerning survival on the sea ice by a systematic study of both contemporary and traditional Eskimo hunting, travel, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nelson, Richard K.
Other Authors: WISCONSIN UNIV-MADISON DEPT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1966
Subjects:
Biology
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
*SURVIVAL(PERSONNEL)
*SEA ICE
*ARCTIC REGIONS
ENVIRONMENTS
MAMMALS
SHELTERS
ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
CLOTHING
FOOD
ANTHROPOLOGY
PERIODIC VARIATIONS
FISHES
CULTURE
BIRDS
TERRAIN
CLIMATE
LANGUAGE
AURORAE
ESKIMOS
Arctic
Point Hope
Traveller
Barrow
eskimo*
Ice
permafrost
Point Barrow
Sea ice
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0648478
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0648478
Description
Summary:Studies were conducted mainly at the Eskimo village of Wainwright, Alaska, with supplementary research done at Point Barrow and Point Hope. A primary aim was to gather information concerning survival on the sea ice by a systematic study of both contemporary and traditional Eskimo hunting, travel, and other sea ice practices. Principal emphasis of the study was on observation and participation, with informal interviews utilized whenever actual hunting and travelling were not going on. The author lived as closely as possible to the native pattern. Data are organized in terms of environmental phenomena or 'stimuli' likely to occur in the Arctic, and activities or 'responses' which the sea ice traveller must make in order to cope with these external forces or to utilize resources which the environment provides. These forces are divided into (1) physical environment, including temperature, wind, atmospheric phenomena such as clouds and snow, astronomical phenomena such as sunlight and aurora, and sea ice; and (2) biological environment which the Eskimo exploits on the sea ice, including invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Since the Eskimo has become exposed to 'outside' influence, much of the traditional culture is being lost, and the introduction and use of firearms caused revolutionary changes in hunting methods. Today the Eskimo combines traditional and modern practices in surviving in and exploiting the sea ice environment.

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