Those Eskimos

Eskimos were those smiley, brown-skinned, fur-trimmed and round-faced people who inhabited the Arctic region.

Eskimos were those that were labelled by another tribe of humans for eating raw meat.

Eskimos were those families who traded fox skins for guns, ammunition, tea and flour.

Eskimos were those who experienced racism without even knowing what racism meant.

Eskimos were those strong and fit men who could lift a half-tonne rock without much strain and run alongside a dog team for hours on end.

Eskimos were those patient and resilient women who seamed countless skin boots, mitts, parkas, snow pants, avatait, qajait, umiat and tupiit and also found the time to establish the warmth of a home.

Eskimos were those children who obeyed the words of their parents by going outside every morning when they woke up.

Eskimos were those people that gave their last bit of food and tools so that another person would eat or be able to hunt.

Eskimos were those innovative and resourceful people who built Inuksuit to mark land of significance and transformed stone into a cooking stove (not to mention heat and light).

Those Eskimos are my role models.