Inuit+Cultural+Politics

__Political Entities __ Inuit tribes lack a highly organized political structure and as such it is difficult to qualify them as political entities. Rather each tribe is simply a geographical representation of the Inuit peoples as a whole. Within their society, the Inuit had very few leadership roles, rather the leadership role focused around the eldest family member. These elders were highly prized for their wisdom and experience and as such were often looked to for advice or decisions that might otherwise fall on an official figurehead. Inuit society is very much based around non-aggressive cooperation, hence the lack of a king or leadership figure. Increasing influence of Inuit organizations in economic and political development of Canadian Arctic signaled arrival of new era of Inuit empowerment and self-government. __Jail System __ Similar to not having a centralized government, there was also no centralized jail system or positions of authority. Punishments for breaking a "law" or a generally accepted practice was generally fairly mild compared to jail time or execution. The criminal often lost standing within the area, generally through ridicule and gossip or by being ostracized from his village. __Education __ Education has been growing rapidly in the Inuit community. Inuit educators are now actively involved in making greater use of their traditional knowledge and Inuktitut in the classroom. This rise in self dependence has also resulted in the Inuit tribes looking for greater political freedom, rather than relying on the national Canadian government for anything.