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why you should stop using the term "eskimo" when referring to northern Indigenous peoples: a thread made by an Inuk.
i would like to preface that i don't speak for all Indigenous peoples and that this is my view and understanding of what the term means to me and the people i surround myself with.
for people who may not know, "eskimo" is a derogatory term that is offensive to Indigenous groups in the north such as Inuit, Yupiit, Iñupiat, Kalaallit, Unangax, etc.
the word "eskimo" doesn't originate from any of these spoken languages, but most likely originated from the Mi'kmaw word "eskɨtmaq", which was later changed to "eskmaq" which translates to "they eat raw" meat.
more info here: https://twitter.com/chefmijuajij/status/1255093037090430978?s=20
more info here: https://twitter.com/chefmijuajij/status/1255093037090430978?s=20
although it's true that our people eat raw meat, the term was taken from another tribe by colonizers and they weaponized it against us, using it in a derogatory fashion.
"but what term should be used if i'm talking about these groups in general?": just use Indigenous, Natives, or Aboriginals. and if you want to talk about the specific region, just say Arctic/northern Natives or Indigenous people.
there are people that are apart of northern Indigenous groups that don't mind being called "eskimo" but that doesn't mean the rest of us are okay with it. please respect that and call us by our original/traditional names.
tw // mmiw , mmiwg https://mmiwresources.carrd.co/
tw // mmiw , mmiwg http://chng.it/tFLXk2f7gZ
