Geography
The Arctic region is comprised of four parts: Inuvialuit (in the northern parts of the Northwest Territories and Yukon), Nunavut, Nunavik (in northern Québec) and Nunatsiavut (in northern Labrador.
These arctic regions are characterized by long daylight hours in summer with moderate temperatures. Winters are long and cold, and at more northerly locations there is a mid-winter period when the sun is entirely absent. Plant cover may be continuous, especially in well-watered locations, although rocky outcrops and barren dry areas are common. Trees are entirely lacking in the Arctic, though low shrubby plants occur, including several varieties of edible berries. Landforms are variable, from lake-studded lowlands to glacier-strewn alpine areas.
Language
Inuit in Canada traditionally speak Inuktitut, of which there are many different dialects. However, because of improved travel opportunities and the development of Inuit-language radio and TV programming, language differences are diminishing. Traditionally, there was no written language, but after contact with missionaries, the Inuit widely adopted writing systems.
Creation Stories
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/5/0/115094769/published/how-things-came-to-be-cover-cat.jpg?250)
Suggestions for your class:
Written by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, "How Things Came To Be" is the perfect introduction to Arctic creation myths for children of all ages. From the origins of day and night, the sun and the moon, and lightning and thunder to the creation of Arctic animals such as caribou and Arctic waterfowl, this completely revised and re-edited edition—originally published as Qanuq Pinngurnirmata—shares nine classic Inuit creation stories from the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut.
Written by Rachel and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, "How Things Came To Be" is the perfect introduction to Arctic creation myths for children of all ages. From the origins of day and night, the sun and the moon, and lightning and thunder to the creation of Arctic animals such as caribou and Arctic waterfowl, this completely revised and re-edited edition—originally published as Qanuq Pinngurnirmata—shares nine classic Inuit creation stories from the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut.
ART
Inuit and their ancestors have been expert carvers for thousands of years. As well as tools and weapons, they carved art objects from bone, ivory and wood. Ancestors of today's Inuit carved birds, bears and other land and sea mammals, human figures and masks. During contemporary times, prints are often very common.
Suggestions for your class:
Nothing is better than actually experiencing something first thing. Bring your students to the TD Gallery of Inuit Art! It's free.
Suggestions for your class:
Nothing is better than actually experiencing something first thing. Bring your students to the TD Gallery of Inuit Art! It's free.
CURRENTLY