When you hear the word “Inuit” or “Eskimo”, what do you see in your mind? Some see traditional fishermen or hunters living in igloos or wooden sheds on ice, with no contact with the outside world. However, the reality is the polar opposite (do you get it? haha).

Siorapaluk holds the title of being “the northernmost village/settlement in the world”. There are 43 residents, majority of them being actual descendants of Canadian Inuits who migrated during the 1900s, who all speak rare dialect variants of Greenlandic and/or Inuktun, which are the languages of Inuits. Most residents make a living through hunting, tourism or fishing.

Although Siorapaluk is geographically isolated, with no port, flights, marked roads and trails, inhabitants there live in  modern living conditions. They live in insulated houses instead of igloos. They ride snowmobiles instead of sleds or skis. They have access to modern technology such as TVs, phones, cars, and electricity, with frequent doctor and dentist visits. The village has its own power plants to generate electricity. The only way to reach this village is via helicopter transfer, dogsled or snowmobile.

Figure 2: Iqaluit, also known as  “Frobisher bay” (📍Alaska, USA)

Iqaluit is the capital of the Nunavut province in Canada, with the largest indigenous community in north america, with a population of approximately 4,700 residents. About 59.4% are said to be indigenous. 

This is because in the past, the Canadian and American military used nearby airports and airfields, boosting the foreign/immigrant population in the area. Especially during the WW2 Era, when the militaries were constructing NORAD’s DEW (Distant Early Warning Line) of radar systems for detecting soviet bombers during the cold war. Although these aren’t active anymore, there are strong American and Canadian influences on local infrastructure, like schools and public services. These construction projects and the introduction of developed technologies created opportunities for the locals to adapt to the modern world. Some Canadian bases still exist, with the government funding billions of dollars to strengthen its reach near the Arctic. 

Although it has no railway or road system to connect with other cities, it has a heavy dependence on imports, as the port functions during specific times of the year. 

Iqaluit has a tundra climate, with northern lights glowing over the city during nights. There is no natural tree line nearby unless to the south, however there are surviving imported trees that individuals have planted.

Figure 3: Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village (📍Lesotho, South Africa)

https://lesotho.co.ls/2024/07/lesothos-best-museums/

Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village is home to the Basotho/Sotho. Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village sits on Lesotho’s Thaba Bosiu mountain plateau, where the Basotho empire was born. The Basotho kingdom was a union of several clans, united in the 1800s, by king Moshoeshoe I. Currently, the Basotho people are scattered all across South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana, due to migrations, clan conflicts, and the British and Dutch descendants colonising and separating the land. Out of 2.39 million Lesotho citizens, 99.7% are from Basotho heritage.

What makes this village special is its unique geography and culture. This village stands ~1,800 metres above sea level, surrounded by cliffs and nature, making it isolated and difficult to reach. Thaba Bosiu is a Sacred mountain which holds their history and cultural pride for the Basothos. They make a living through tourism, showing their Traditional huts, dances, crafts and food. 

Due to the development of South Africa,and the region's interactions with the modern world, Basothos have gradually embraced development. No one lives in traditional Makhoro huts anymore, they live now in brick houses, and live in cities for better job and education opportunities . Many Basothos have moved to live and work in South Africa to improve their living conditions.

Figure 4: Northern Sentinel Islands or Chia daaKwokweyeh (📍Andaman islands, Bay of bengal, India)