How did traditional Inuit families obtain food and clothing in the Arctic?

Traditional Inuit families in the Arctic relied on a seasonally organized economy to obtain food and clothing, as the environment offered almost no vegetable resources.1

Food Procurement

The Inuit diet was derived from the exploitation of both land and sea resources.2
* Hunting: During the summer, families hunted caribou and other land animals using bows and arrows.13
* Marine Life: In other seasons, they focused on sea mammals, particularly seals, which were hunted with harpoons from the ice or from kayaks. Whales were also a vital food source, typically hunted using larger boats known as umiaks.213
* Storage: Food was often stored to ensure survival during the deepest parts of winter.2

Clothing

To protect against the extreme Arctic cold, the Inuit fashioned warm, tailored clothing primarily from caribou furs and sealskins. These materials provided the necessary insulation for life in an icebound environment.13