The Arctic

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The Arctic
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Social Organization

• Basic unit was extended family
• Kinship bilateral
• Like U.S.
• Egalitarian
• Other techniques
• adoption
• spouse exchange
• name-sharing
• child betrothal agreements
• ritual sponsors
• economic partnerships

Family Kindred Band Regional population
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Religion
Bering Sea Transformation Mask

• Animistic and Shamanic
• Masked dances

Represents thumbless Tunghak spirit with
caribou
Inupiat drummers 1958

• Sedna, goddess of undersea world
• Tunghak spirits
• -animal bosses

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Shamanism
The Shaman (angakok) social enforcer and
diagnostician training and initiation spirit
helpers performance self-induced trance
states social function of spirit mediation
cure illness combat misfortune
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Yupik Masks
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Masks
More
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Summer Rituals

• Not as serious
• Involved play
• religious and social
• Blanket toss

Blanket toss
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Aleuts
whales and sea lions 16,000 disregard for cold
waterproof garments basketry large
semi-subterranean homes
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Aleut Social Structure
Tri-class social structure elite commoners slav
es orphans and captives Cooperative
relationships reciprocal obligation Polygyny oc
casional assistant husbands