Eskimo was a name applied to a number of Human ethnic groups who traditionally lived in the far north of the planet Earth, including the indigenous inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands and Alaskan Native Americans, among others.
- The term "Eskimo" originated as a "catchall" term for all polar region natives, assigned by colonizers of North America, in much the same way "Indian" was used to refer to Native Americans. Although it has been used in Star Trek by 23rd century characters, in reality the term is being phased out in favor of more accurate indigenous names for specific tribal and geographic origins for the wide array of peoples the term was used to refer to. Additionally, the term has been used unfavorably with a connotation of cultural bias. While the references in Star Trek did not seem to have been intended to carry that prejudice, it is important to note that they do represent an anachronism at the very least.
History and specifics[]
Doctor Leonard McCoy once cited the fact that Eskimo diets consisted mainly of meat and whale blubber and Eskimos lived a long time as a reason why Spock should consider eating meat. (TOS novel: Sanctuary)
According to her long-time friend Nick Keller, Savannah Ring, the Starfleet paramedic aboard UFPF Challenger, had Eskimo ancestry, as well as Polynesian. (TOS - New Earth novel: Challenger)
When Nick Keller was preparing for his trek to the extradimensional "metalworld", upon packing his survival kit he mused that he felt like an Eskimo prepring for Iditarod. (CHA - Gateways novel: Chainmail)
Appendices[]
References[]
- TOS novel: Sanctuary
- TOS - New Earth novel: Challenger
- CHA - Gateways novel: Chainmail
- TOS novel: Vulcan's Forge
- TNG novelization: All Good Things...