Throughout history, the Inuit relied much more heavily than the rest of the world on animals for nourishment, largely because plants just can't grow where they live. Inuit adapted long ago to the harsh Arctic conditions. They are arguably also one of the toughest, having survived one of the most unpleasant climates in the world for millennia. The impressive geographical reach of the Inuit makes them the most widespread aboriginal group in the world. So, even though many people use the terms interchangeably or think they are separate tribes, the group prefers to be referred to as Inuit. Some linguists now believe that the word "Eskimo" means "to net snowshoes," although it's pretty much impossible to prove. Eskimo is considered a derogatory term because the name was bestowed upon the Inuit by non-Inuits. The word "Inuit" means "the people." "Eskimo" is believed to mean "eaters of raw meat". Johnny Weyiouanna heads back to Shishmaref, on the Chukchi Sea after a night of seal hunting circa 2005. The igloo was a means for hunters to survive brutal winters in a vast area spanning more than 3,500 miles, including eastern Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and parts of Canada. The Inuit, better known to many as Eskimos, invented the igloo centuries ago. Thus, the igloo, the Inuit word for "snow house," was born. These people used the only abundant material to form a modest roof over their heads: snow. Building materials were pretty much nonexistent, making it difficult to craft even the most rudimentary home. Unfortunately, for the inhabitants of Earth's more frigid regions, such as the Canadian tundra, neither of these were good options. Native Americans in warmer climates favored the tepee, or tipi, made entirely of animal hides or bark. Wealthy Europeans embraced the concept of a nearly indestructible castle built from stone. Long before brick or wood houses with indoor heat became commonplace, people had to be creative when building homes to protect them from nature's elements. White Fox/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images An Inuit builds an igloo near Canada's Village Baker Lake.
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