Inuit

Inuit are the Aboriginal people of Arctic Canada. Inuit live primarily in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and northern parts of Labrador and Quebec. They have traditionally lived above the treeline in the area bordered by the Mackenzie Delta in the west, the Labrador coast in the east, the southern point of Hudson Bay in the south, and the High Arctic islands in the north.

Inuit are not covered by the Indian Act. However, in 1939 the Supreme Court interpreted the federal government's power to make laws affecting "Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians" as extending to Inuit.

The word "Inuit" means "the people" in Inuktitut, the Inuit language, and is the term by which Inuit refer to themselves. Avoid using the term "Inuit people" as the use of "people" is redundant. The term "Eskimo," applied to Inuit by European explorers, is no longer used in Canada.

Suggested usage:

Use as a noun and a modifier. The term is acceptable as both. According to the national organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the preferred use of "Inuit" as a noun is simply "Inuit," not "the Inuit" nor "Inuit people."

As hunters, the Inuit led a seasonal existence, living according to nature's schedule.
Contact between Inuit people and Europeans increased with the arrival of whaling ships in the 19th century.

As hunters, Inuit led a seasonal existence, living according to nature's schedule.
Contact between Inuit and Europeans increased with the arrival of whaling ships in the 19th century.
With the birth of Nunavut in 1999, Inuit embarked on an exciting new era in their history.

Capitalize. The Department capitalizes "Inuit" as it would other designations like "Francophone," "Arabic" or "Nordic."

"Inuk" is the singular form of Inuit. Use "Inuk" when referring to one Inuit person.