eskimo

The term Eskimo is an exonym historically used to refer to the indigenous peoples inhabiting the circumpolar region, spanning eastern Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada, and Greenland. The two main distinct groups traditionally covered by this label are the Inuit (in Northern Alaska, Canada, and Greenland) and the Yupik (in Western Alaska and the Russian Far East). While popular belief long held that the word derived from an Algonquian language meaning "eaters of raw meat," modern linguists generally attribute the origin to a Montagnais term meaning "snowshoe-netter."

Acceptability of the term depends heavily on geography. In Canada and Greenland, the term is widely considered derogatory and a colonial imposition; it has been officially replaced by Inuit (which means "the people"). Using "Eskimo" in these regions is often seen as offensive. However, in Alaska, the dynamic is different. Because the Yupik people are distinct from the Inuit and do not speak an Inuit language, the term "Inuit" is not an accurate collective descriptor for all Alaska Natives. Consequently, "Eskimo" is still used by some in Alaska—including within legal contexts—to encompass both Yupik and Iñupiat groups, though preference is increasingly shifting toward using specific tribal names or "Alaska Native."

Example:
"While the museum updated its exhibits to replace 'Eskimo' with 'Inuit' for its Canadian collections, the archival maps retained the original terminology."

Example:
"In Alaska, some elders may still refer to themselves as Eskimo, distinguishing their identity from the distinct cultural groups found in the Canadian Arctic."