Introduction to the Cultures of North American Aboriginal Peoples
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Transcript Introduction to the Cultures of North American Aboriginal Peoples
Introduction to the
Cultures of
North American
Aboriginal Peoples
Arctic Region
Inhabitants
Not “Indians”
– Difference based on physical differences:
Blood
Types
– ABO
Eskimo/Aleut peoples have percentages similar to
Euro-Asian peoples
Indians lack antigen “B”
– MN Blood Groups
Same similarities
Physical
differences related to cold adaptation
– Length of limbs
– Breadth of trunk
Physical Anthropology
Group
Type
O
Type A
Type
B
Type
AB
Eskimo
(Alaska
)
38
44
13
15
Indians
(USA)
79
16
4
1
Navajo
73
27
0
0
Blackfo
ot
17
82
0
1
Czech
30
44
18
9
Modern groups in the
Arctic form a group
distinct from the rest of
the Americas’ aboriginal
inhabitants
This can be seen in a
number of physiological
and linguistic areas
– Eskimo-Aleut languages
are related to languages
spoken in eastern Siberia
and not to other
languages of North
America
– Blood type distribution
(see table)
– Y-chromosome and
mtDNA differences
32 Y-chromosome
haplotypes
Appears to indicate
relationship (Haplotype
31) with groups in
central Siberia
Genetic distance between human populations based on research by
Cavalii-Sforza
Regional Characteristics (1)
Arctic
– Stretching from western Alaska across the entire
continent to Greenland
– Area north of the tree line
– Classic tundra conditions during the Holocene.
Cold, desert-like conditions.
Growing season ranges from 50 to 60 days.
Average winter temperature is -34° C
Average summer temperature is 3-12° C
Yearly precipitation, including melting snow, is 1525
cm
– Flora
Low shrubs, sedges (Cyperaceae), reindeer moss (Cladonia
rangifera), liverworts (Hepaticae), and grasses
400 varieties of flowers
crustose and foliose lichen
Climate
No region more
affected by climate
Long winters
– Winter: Oct-May
– Summer Jun-Sept
Wind
Relatively dry
20
15
10
5
High
West
East
Brno
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
-30
I
IV
VI
X
Tundra (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge)
Coastal tundra
Arctic Fauna: Terrestrial Mammals
Terrestrial
herbivores:
– Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) [sob]
– Musk oxen (Ovibus moschatus)
[pižmoň]
– Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus) [zajíc
polární]
– Lemming (Synaptomys spp.) [lumík]
Terrestrial
carnivores
– Wolf (Canis lupus)
– Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) [liška
polární]
Arctic Fauna: Marine Mammals (1)
Seals (true/eared)
– Harp seal (Phoca groenlandicus) tuleň gronský
Adult males grow to about 1.7 m and 130 kg; females are
smaller
– Ringed seal (Phoca hispida) tuleň kroužkovaný
Adult ringed seals are 99-157 cm in length and weigh 45-107
kg
– Ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata) tuleň pruhovaný
Adult ribbon seals average 155-165 cm in length and 70-80
kg in weight
– Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) tuleň vousatý
Adult seals are 2.1-2.5 m in length, and weigh about 200-360
kg
– Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) mrož
Atlantic walrus males average 3.0 m in length and weigh
approximately 800-900 kg. Pacific walrus males are
somewhat larger, averaging 3.2 m and approximately 1200
kg. Females are generally smaller
– Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) lachtan medvědí
Arctic Fauna: Marine Mammals (2)
Whales (toothed/baleen – ozubení/kosticovici)
– Beluga (Didelphinapterus leucas) běluha
Adults measure 3-4.6 m and weigh 1350-1500 kg
– Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) narval
Adults: 4-4.9 m, 900-1600 kg, tooth: 2-3 m in length
– Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) plejtvákovec šedý
Adults are 13.8-15 m long and weigh about 33,000 kg
– Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) velryba
biskajská
Adults are 15-15.2 m long and weigh about 54,000 kg
– Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) velryba gronská
Adults are 15-18.5 m long and weigh 72-91,000 kg
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) medvěd lední
– Male polar bears grow two to three times the size of
female polar bears
– Males weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg and are
about 2.5-3 m long
– Females about 150 to 250 kg and are about 2 to 2.5 m
Diversity and Density
Western Arctic –
highest diversity
Central Arctic – lowest
diversity and density
Eastern Arctic – in
between
Stone tools:
– No suitable raw
materials for chipped
stone
– Emphasis on ground
stone tools (slate)
Extensive use of bone
and ivory tools
Knives
Left: Ulu (woman’s knife) made of ground
slate in a bone handle
Right: Man’s knife made from ivory
Oil lamps
Only source of light
and heat
Fuel is blubber (fat
of sea mammals)
Used for melting
snow for water
Heating water for
tea
Not sufficient for
cooking
Other technology
Human mobility
Summer
– restricted to water
– Reduced mobility
– Kyak
– Umiak
Winter
– on land and sea (frozen)
– Increased mobility
– Dog sled
Umiak
Inuit kayak (max. length 5 m)
More kyaks
Kayak loaded with sealskin float,
weapons, etc.
Sled (toy)
Dog sled team
House Types - Summer
Simple whalebone
or driftwood frame
Covered in animal
skins
House Types - winter
W. & E. Arctic
– Semisubterranean
sod houses
– Snow houses only
used for short term
living
C. Arctic
– Snow houses used
longer term
Seasonal residence patterns
Western Arctic
– Summer village
50-100
people
Whaling
– Winter dispersal
Nuclear
family groups
Central Arctic
– Summer dispersal
– Winter village
60-100
people
Winter Village
Engraving
from
Frobisher
expedition in
16th century
Diet
Meat
Blubber/fat
– No/minimal cooking
Vitamnins
Berries
in summer
– Cloudberry
An
amber-colored relative of the raspberry
Grows on very small bushes
Nerkraitorvik
Hunting
companions
– Each hunter has 12
– Each of the 12 is referred to by a
specific part of the seal
– When a hunter kills a sea he exchanges
that part with his named partner
– Not necessary to participate in hunt to
make claim
Division of Labor
Men
– Hunting
– Fishing
– Butchering kills away from camp
Women
– Butchering kills in camp
– Preparation of clothing
Tanning leather
Sewing
– Family duties
Both
– Shamanism
– Spiritual activities