What Kind of Food Do Eskimos Eat?

Americans may be somewhat familiar with Eskimo Indian traditions. Let’s take a closer look at this fascinating tribe to learn more about what they eat, how they live, and how their culture has changed over recent years.

The Eskimos live largely off foods hunted and collected in and around the Arctic.  The most important part of the Eskimo diet is seal, which is plentiful in the Arctic.  Other foods that are central to Eskimo diets include:

• Fish, including salmon and cod
• Whales and other marine life
• Polar bears
• Walrus
• Arctic foxes
• Hares
• Geese and caribou, largely in the summer

The kind of foods that Eskimos eat is largely impacted by the way in which they live their lives and the locations where they eat, so understanding what they eat also means understanding a bit about the Eskimos themselves.

What Is an “Eskimo?”

The term “Eskimo” is a Native American word that means “eaters of raw meat.”  This tribe of Native Americans lives largely in four regions:

• The northern most regions of the former Soviet Union
• Alaska
• Northern Canada
• Greenland

The Eskimos are believed to have migrated into Northern America over a land bridge that connected the northern regions of the former Soviet Union and Siberia to what is now Alaska. This bridge no longer exists, but as a result of their migration from Asia, Eskimos are believed to be more closely related to their northern Asian descendants than to those living in North America.

Because they live primarily in cold climates, the food they tend to eat is based around animals that thrive in those harsh environments. This is why polar bars, arctic foxes and other related animals are all eaten by Eskimos.

Eskimo Life

Many Eskimos have dark, straight hair, dark brown skin, brown or black eyes, and high cheekbones. Because they live primarily in the regions surrounding the Arctic, they must wear warm clothing and gear to protect their bodies from the elements. This is especially true when they are hunting for their food. In addition, the clothing that they wear is influenced by the good that they eat.

Eskimos hunt many animals for their meat, but they use all parts of the animal. For example, Eskimos typically wear the skins of animals, including seal, polar bear, fox, and most commonly, caribou. 

Eskimo Culture and Food

Eskimo culture is family-centered. Eskimos live in large groups including several families, and each family often consists of wife, husband, and unmarried children.  Married sons with wives and children typically live with parents. Children in Eskimo culture are venerated, and raised with various responsibilities.

Typically, men in Eskimo culture build homes for their families, build and operate boats for fishing, drive sleds for moving people and gear, and hunt food. As such, they are responsible for determining what their families eat and the success of their hunting and fishing can have a major impact on the eskimo diet.

Women, on the other hand, tend to care for the homes, prepare foods, raise children, and make warm clothing for their families.  

Families lead migratory lives and need different homes in winter and summer homes. Summer homes typically involve a variety of tents made from animal skins.  In winter, homes are constructed of sod and ice in dome shapes commonly referred to as “igloos.” These homes are effectively built to keep out the elements and to sustain heat.  

Food for Eskimos Today

Many Eskimos no longer “live off the land,” as they did in years past. Instead, they live in towns and other modern communities. They wear clothing purchased in stores, and foods from groceries. What they eat has changed considerably over the years. Many lead lives that are considered more contemporary, eating the same foods that any average person would pick up from the grocery store.