Myth

Truth

1.

Eskimos live in igloos.

Alaska Natives never lived in igloos.  In the old days, they would create homes out of whalebones covered with walrus hide. Then the snow would provide insulation and make them look like “igloos.” The houses were well-insulated; it was hot inside.

Today, St. Lawrence Island Yupiks live in houses that look like something from a housing development in the Lower 48. A few still live in the Old Village. The houses there are made from extra lumber (called “dunnage”) from whaling ships many decades ago.

2.

Eskimos eat whale blubber.

Eskimos do not eat blubber and never did. In the old days, they used it to heat their houses, since it’s mainly oil.  Today, they use oil as do Lower 48 houses – except it is extremely expensive.

Sometimes, St. Lawrence Island Yupiks eat whale skin. It tastes like chewing gum. When they pickle it, it’s truly deli 

3.

Eskimos harvest whales.

That is true.  However, the practice is highly regulated. Whales are not hunted for sport, and the meat is never sold. They hunt whales in order to live.

Before saying anything bad about Eskimos, ask yourself: Do you eat beef? Do you go to MacDonald’s? Do you wear leather belts or leather shoes? Products today often contain parts of animals. The difference between Alaska Natives and people like yourself is that the Natives do their own hunting – and there is no waste.

4.

It is dark in Alaska for six months a year.

That is false. Alaska is huge. If you put one end of it in California, the other end would reach the Atlantic Ocean!

In the part of Alaska that is way up north, the sun does not come up for 84 days (that is, about three months). In most of Alaska, however, there is considerable sunlight even on the shortest day of the year. 

Also, much of Alaska gets hot during summer.  Temperatures in the 80s and 90s are not uncommon.

5.

Eskimos kiss by rubbing noses.

That came about from a misunderstanding by Hollywood.  Eskimos may put their faces close together for warmth.