Eskimo

A member of the indigenous people who have traditionally inhabited Alaska and other Arctic regions, including eastern Siberia in Russia, Canada and Greenland.

The term is controversial and should be used with caution. “Although the name ‘Eskimo’ is commonly used in Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean ‘eater of raw meat,’ ” according to the Alaska Native Language Center. “Linguists now believe that ‘Eskimo’ is derived from an Ojibwa word meaning ‘to net snowshoes.’ However, the people of Canada and Greenland prefer other names. ‘Inuit,’ meaning ‘people,’ is used in most of Canada, and the language is called ‘Inuktitut’ in eastern Canada although other local designations are used also. The Inuit people of Greenland refer to themselves as ‘Greenlanders’ or ‘Kalaallit’ in their language, which they call ‘Greenlandic’ or ‘Kalaallisut.’

“Most Alaskans continue to accept the name ‘Eskimo’  particularly because ‘Inuit’ refers only to the Inupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada, and the Kalaallit of Greenland,” according to the language center’s website, “and it is not a word in the Yupik languages of Alaska and Siberia.”

In 2016, President Barack Obama signed legislation (HR 4238) that replaced the term Eskimo with Alaska Native in federal laws. Some people identify as Inuit or Alaska Native, while others prefer Eskimo.  As with many controversial terms, it’s best to ask individuals or community leaders what they prefer to be called.

To learn more, listen to “Why You Probably Shouldn’t Say ‘Eskimo,'” a 2016 news report by Rebecca Hersher on NPR. org.