who are the inuit

The Inuit are Indigenous peoples who inhabit the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America and parts of northeastern Siberia, including Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska, and parts of Russia. They are united by a common cultural heritage and language, Inuktitut. The Inuit traditionally lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers adapted to the harsh Arctic environment, relying primarily on hunting marine mammals such as seals, whales, and walrus, as well as caribou and fish. Their ancestors are believed to have originated in northwestern Alaska and spread eastward across the Arctic over a thousand years ago, replacing earlier Arctic cultures. Today, there are about 125,000 to 180,000 Inuit people living in these regions, maintaining many aspects of their cultural traditions alongside modern life. The term "Inuit" means "people," and it has largely replaced the outdated term "Eskimo," which outsiders previously used. Inuit culture is characterized by specialized hunting skills, use of fur clothing, kayaks, dog sleds, and a diet rich in animal fat suited to the cold climate.