Indigenous peoples of the Arctic

Indigenous peoples of the Arctic are distinct nations and communities whose ancestral homelands span Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Greenland, and northern Eurasia.

Inuit: An Indigenous people of Inuit Nunangat, Greenland, and parts of the Russian Arctic, with related languages and regional identities. Inuit communities inhabit Arctic regions from Alaska across Canada to Greenland.
Circumpolar peoples: Peoples whose homelands lie around one or both polar regions, including Arctic Indigenous communities. This broader grouping places Arctic peoples in a shared geographic frame without implying one identity.
Danish colonization of Greenland: The process by which Denmark established and expanded colonial authority over Greenland, beginning in the eighteenth century. Danish rule shaped Kalaallit political history and Greenland’s path toward self-government.
Arctic climate change: The rapid warming and associated environmental transformations occurring across the Arctic region. Changing sea ice, permafrost, and ecosystems affect travel, food systems, and infrastructure.
Eskimo: A historically widespread label for some Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, now rejected by many communities and individuals. Its contested use contrasts with community-preferred names such as Inuit, Yupik, or Iñupiat.
Sámi: An Indigenous people whose traditional homeland, Sápmi, spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia’s Kola Peninsula. Sámi homelands extend into the European Arctic and subarctic.
Arctic: The region around the North Pole, commonly defined by the Arctic Circle or by climatic and ecological boundaries. The Arctic’s boundaries help locate the widely dispersed homelands described by this concept.
Russian colonization of Siberia: The expansion of Russian state power across Siberia from the sixteenth century onward, including the subjugation of Indigenous peoples. Russian expansion transformed Indigenous life and governance across northern Eurasia.
Permafrost: Ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. Thawing permafrost damages settlements and infrastructure across northern homelands.
Arctic states: The eight countries with territory in the Arctic: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. States govern much of the territory, but Indigenous peoples have distinct identities and rights within them.

Linked from 19 pages