Endangered Peoples of the Arctic: Struggles to Survive and Thrive

Description

In the Arctic regions| virtually all inhabitants are cultural minorities within their own countries| and although their native culture is constantly evolving naturally| outside pressures are endangering their most important traditions. Endangered Peoples of the Arctic focuses on 14 endangered cultures| from the Inuit tribes in Canada| Alaska| and Greenland to the Saami in Sweden. Students and interested readers will become informed about the contemporary impacts on their traditional way of life| such as loss of language| military intrusions| oil drilling| and wildlife protection| and how these groups are responding. The chapters are written by anthropologists based on their recent fieldwork| which guarantees unparalleled accuracy and exciting immediacy.

The Arctic regions are the heartland the groups profiled in “Endangered Peoples of the Arctic|” and the varied Arctic peoples share common threats from governments and neighbors to the south. Each chapter is devoted to a specific people| including a cultural overview of their history| subsistence strategies| social and political organization| and religion and world view; threats to their survival| and their response to these threats. A section entitled Food for Thought poses questions that encourage a personal engagement with the experience of these peoples| and a resource guide suggests further reading and lists films and videos| pertinent organizations and web sites. As the curriculum expands to include more multicultural and indigenous peoples| this unique volume will be valuable to both students and teachers.