Names - "Eskimo" 

Often, the common names used for Alaskan Native groups differ from those they use for themselves. On the next two pages, we will look at examples of this and discuss the names used in this textbook.

Eskimo is a common word most readers are familiar with. However, the use of Eskimo is controversial and considered unacceptable by some Alaskan Natives. So, it is important to understand what Eskimo refers to and discuss its appropriateness.

Eskimo refers to three closely related Alaskan Native groups: the Inupiaq, Yupik, and Alutiiq. These peoples share common ancestors who migrated to Alaska as part of the third migration and inhabited the Alaska coast from Prince William Sound to the Arctic Ocean.  The origin of the word Eskimo is uncertain. The leading theory is that it comes from Algonquian, a language spoken by Native Americans in Northern Canada and parts of the United States. A common interpretation of its meaning has been "eaters of raw meat," although more recent linguistic findings suggest it means "one who laces snowshoes." Some Alaskan Natives consider it an offensive term given by outsiders. Other Alaskan Natives use the term to describe themselves and self-identify as Eskimo. It is currently used by linguists to denote the Eskimo language group, which includes Inupiaq, Yupik, and Alutiiq. 

Alaska Natives increasingly prefer to be known by the names they use in their languages. This textbook edition primarily uses the indigenous names of Inupiaq, Yupik, and Alutiiq. The term Eskimo has been kept in limited places to refer to the collective Inupiaq, Yupik, and Alutiiq peoples because no alternative term identifies their common heritage and culture. Recognizing this shared history and cultural origins is historically meaningful, especially in looking at the history and culture of the incredibly diverse Alaskan Native peoples. 

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