Living Conditions
What are the modern living conditions of the Labradormiut?
Today, store-bought foods widely incorporate diets, and most people live in modern wooden homes.
What is the Mukushan ritual, and what does it celebrate?
The Mukushan ritual was a celebration of the hunts and honoured the caribou spirit.
Where were the Labradormiut located?
The North Coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Why are housing shortages a major challenge happening today in Labradormiut communities?
Harsh climate, growing population, limited funding, high living costs
How has transportation evolved from traditional to modern times?
Traditionally: Kayaks, Umiaks, Dogsleds
Today: Snowmobiles, Motorized Boats, Small Aircraft
How do Labradormiut stories show their connection to the land?
Stories emphasize respect for the land, nature, and maintaining balance with the environment.
What do the carving tools, different patterns, dances and songs help express?
Portrayed deep connection to land and animals
What factors have made life more difficult for the Arctic Labradormiut?
Environmental challenges:
- Unpredictable weather
- Thinning ice
- Shifting migrations of caribou and other marine mammals
How did Labradormiut housing adapt to the seasons?
Winter - Qarmac - Well-insulated, built to withstand the cold
Summer - Tupiit - Lighter, easier to move when families travelled for hunting
Who is Torngarsoak, and how does he connect the Labradormiut to the land and its animals?
The supreme spirit linked to the Torngat Mountains, who was believed to control hunting success and demand respect for animals.
How did the cold climate benefit the Labrador Inuit people and their waterways in the past and present?
Used the lakes and the sea to travel on foot
Called the frozen over lakes, rivers, and water streams “highways”
Present times: Problems have emerged as the climate has warmed, making ice highways unreliable
How do Labradormiut run school and cultural programs reflect how Inuit education has changed?
Inuit-run schools, cultural centers, and language programs that target teaching regional Inuit artists, musicians, and performers from Labrador
How did the Labradormiut’s location influence their diet?
Due to a lack of agriculture in the region, the Labradormiut consumed a high-fat diet.
How was the Moravian Church different from other assimilation attempts?
They were different from other assimilation efforts because instead of forcing the Labradormiut to give up their culture, they blended the traditional Inuit beliefs with Christianity.
In what ways did hunting, gathering, and fishing help the Labradormiut survive and connect to their land?
Food, tools, and clothing
Enabled people to understand animal behaviours and seasonal changes.
With the preservation of their language being a concern, how does the Labradormiut community ensure that the knowledge is passed on through generations?
Created educational and cultural programs that teach the language to young children