"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Jim,
Didn't know that. Where does the term Eskimos come from? I take it they
wish to be called "Inuit"?
Paul
Hi Paul:
The term " Eskimo" is taken from the Algonquin tribe language and the
meaning is "eater of raw flesh". It was an ancient name that the Inuit
detested as it was in reference to the, sometimes, act of cannibalism. The
Inuit have always called themselves "Inuit" as a people and "Inuk" as a
person. I have traveled to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut ( Canadian Northern
Territory) to visit my niece who is a school teacher in this town. ( and to
go fishing ) She told me of how the people react to Americans who call
them "Eskimo". They definitely don't like it at all.

James D. Carter

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 19:10:18 -0500, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Jim,
Didn't know that. Where does the term Eskimos come from? I take it they
wish to be called "Inuit"?
Paul
Hi Paul:
The term " Eskimo" is taken from the Algonquin tribe language and the
meaning is "eater of raw flesh". It was an ancient name that the Inuit
detested as it was in reference to the, sometimes, act of cannibalism. The
Inuit have always called themselves "Inuit" as a people and "Inuk" as a
person. I have traveled to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut ( Canadian Northern
Territory) to visit my niece who is a school teacher in this town. ( and to
go fishing ) She told me of how the people react to Americans who call
them "Eskimo". They definitely don't like it at all.

That's odd. For some reason, we have a small contingent of Inuit here
in town - I think two or three of the family teach in local colleges
and at UCONN. They have never objected to the term Eskimo.

Go figure.

Later,

Tom

On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 00:32:38 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 19:10:18 -0500, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Jim,
Didn't know that. Where does the term Eskimos come from? I take it they
wish to be called "Inuit"?
Paul
Hi Paul:
The term " Eskimo" is taken from the Algonquin tribe language and the
meaning is "eater of raw flesh". It was an ancient name that the Inuit
detested as it was in reference to the, sometimes, act of cannibalism. The
Inuit have always called themselves "Inuit" as a people and "Inuk" as a
person. I have traveled to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut ( Canadian Northern
Territory) to visit my niece who is a school teacher in this town. ( and to
go fishing ) She told me of how the people react to Americans who call
them "Eskimo". They definitely don't like it at all.

That's odd. For some reason, we have a small contingent of Inuit here
in town - I think two or three of the family teach in local colleges
and at UCONN. They have never objected to the term Eskimo.

Go figure.

Later,

Tom

I've never had a Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese object at my use of the term
'Oriental', which many say is derogatory. Perhaps your Inuit and my Koreans,
Vietnamese, and Chinese are just very polite!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

JohnH,
Oriental isn't derogatory, it just isn't appropriate when discussing people.
It would be used to describe artwork, furniture or rugs, but not people.
Asians is the term you mean to use when you use "oriental".


"John H" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 03 Apr 2005 00:32:38 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sat, 2 Apr 2005 19:10:18 -0500, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Jim,
Didn't know that. Where does the term Eskimos come from? I take it they
wish to be called "Inuit"?
Paul
Hi Paul:
The term " Eskimo" is taken from the Algonquin tribe language and the
meaning is "eater of raw flesh". It was an ancient name that the Inuit
detested as it was in reference to the, sometimes, act of cannibalism.
The
Inuit have always called themselves "Inuit" as a people and "Inuk" as a
person. I have traveled to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut ( Canadian Northern
Territory) to visit my niece who is a school teacher in this town. ( and
to
go fishing ) She told me of how the people react to Americans who call
them "Eskimo". They definitely don't like it at all.

That's odd. For some reason, we have a small contingent of Inuit here
in town - I think two or three of the family teach in local colleges
and at UCONN. They have never objected to the term Eskimo.

Go figure.

Later,

Tom

I've never had a Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese object at my use of the
term
'Oriental', which many say is derogatory. Perhaps your Inuit and my
Koreans,
Vietnamese, and Chinese are just very polite!
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

That's odd. For some reason, we have a small contingent of Inuit here
in town - I think two or three of the family teach in local colleges
and at UCONN. They have never objected to the term Eskimo.

Go figure.

I figure you were probably paying attention to *them*, rather than
what others say about them.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)

"Jim Carter" wrote:
"Paul Schilter" ""paulschilter\"@comcast dot net" wrote in message
...
Jim,
Didn't know that. Where does the term Eskimos come from? I take it they
wish to be called "Inuit"?
Paul
Hi Paul:
The term " Eskimo" is taken from the Algonquin tribe language and the
meaning is "eater of raw flesh". It was an ancient name that the Inuit
detested as it was in reference to the, sometimes, act of cannibalism. The
Inuit have always called themselves "Inuit" as a people and "Inuk" as a

Those words have only been around for... 1500 years or so.
Eskimos have been around for at least 5000, maybe 8000 or more,
years.

person. I have traveled to Rankin Inlet in Nunavut ( Canadian Northern
Territory) to visit my niece who is a school teacher in this town. ( and to
go fishing ) She told me of how the people react to Americans who call
them "Eskimo". They definitely don't like it at all.

Depends on how you use it. People who have been abused by a
government that used the word Eskimo to implement the abuse
don't like it, particularly if there is even a hint of racism.

On the other hand, if you use it *correctly*, which is to say when
you are referring to *all* types of Eskimos, not just Inuit, even
the Inuit people of Canada don't mind it.

Of course there is very little need for it in Canada. Here in
Alaska that is an everyday usage that is very common. Besides,
nobody here calls themselves Inuit.

--
Floyd L. Davidson http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)