Inuit

Inuit (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐃᓄᐃᑦ, singular Inuk or Inuq / ᐃᓄᒃ) is a general term for a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples of the Arctic who descended from the Thule.

Anthropological classification

The Inuit living in North America were formerly classed together with other Native Americans, but they are now considered to be an entirely separate ethnic group who arrived in North America much later, after the disappearance of the Bering land bridge. Accordingly, in Canada the Inuit do not consider themselves and are not considered by others to be one of the First Nations. However, they, the Indians, and the Métis are collectively recognized by the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982 as Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Other synonyms include "First Peoples" and "Native Peoples".

Related Topics:
North America - Native American - Bering land bridge - First Nations - Métis - Constitution Act, 1982 - Aboriginal peoples in Canada

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Anthropologists once classed the Inuit as members of the Mongoloid race, along with various Siberian tribes such as the Yakut, as well as the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Their physical appearance is closer to what is generally associated with Asian peoples than to other Native Americans, but racial categorisation is no longer considered very productive among anthropologists, in part because of the highly contested nature of racial categories.

Related Topics:
Mongoloid - Siberian - Yakut - Chinese - Korean - Japanese - Asia

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