Karmak and Barabara
Other Arctic Dwellings
While there is marked diversity with respect to the constituent materials of indigenous dwellings throughout North America, there are also similarities in the style and basic design. Throughout the Plains, the tipi was the dominant construct of indigenous communities, but it was not alone. Very often, the tipi is confused with another type of dwelling that used grass and reeds instead of canvas. Additionally, the igloo has often been misidentified as a snow house when closer examination clearly reveals the distinct variations in the design of these structures. A snow house is similar to the pithouse and does not actually include bricks cut from the surrounding permafrost. It is these differences that make these structures unique—they are the products of the environment occupied by the tribal community and the result of necessity.
The tribes of the Arctic Cultural Area occupy a region of intense cold and a landscape covered by layers of snow and ice. This results in permanently frozen subsoil known as permafrost. The most commonly held domestic image of the Arctic region is that of tundra consisting of igloos and fur wrapped Eskimos. This designation, and the popular image of the igloo dweller, is a common misconception. In fact, the idea that all Arctic communities employed permafrost is also a misrepresentation of the facts. Permafrost is used to construct both individual homes and storage facilities for only a percentage of Arctic tribes.
The indigenous communities of the Arctic region consist of two branches of the Eskaleut language family—the Inuit and the Aleut. Only the Central Inuit construct igloos, which were a facet only during the winter months. Throughout the rest of the year, Central Inuit communities used a variation on the tipi design. Due to the difference in climate between the Arctic and Plains regions, the Inuit tipi was covered in caribou hide—which proved to be a more effective insulation than he lighter covering seen among the Plains communities. The similarity in home construction does not end with the Central Inuit tipi.
The larger Inuit communities constructed a dwelling known as a karmak, which bore a striking resemblance to the pithouse. Like the pithouse, the karmak is a single family dwelling constructed over an excavated hole. The foundation of the karmak is five to six feet deep, with a domed roof that is usually two to three feet above-ground. The roof portion of the dwelling consists of a frame made up of whale ribs and timber. This structure is subsequently covered in sod and grass.
Aleut communities constructed a similar structure that was known as a barabara. The barabara is a large, communal dwelling that is also constructed over an excavated hole. Unlike the Inuit design, the Aleut barabara had a foundation that ranged from two to three feet deep and a supporting framework made up of planks and wooden beams—although some communities employed whale ribs as a frame. Like the karmak, the doorway to the barabara faced east and lead to a central area that housed the fire pit. Also like the karmak, the exterior of the barabara was covered in sod or grass.
Sources:
Mark C Carnes, Ed, U.S. History. (New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1996).
Kenneth C. Davis, Don’t Know Much About History. (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2003).
Gilbert Legay, Atlas of Indians. (Hauppage: Barron’s, 1995)
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Book, 2000).
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