text: I teach in an Eskimo village and Eskimo is how they refer to themselves and they do not find the word derogatory. Apparently the politically correct label is Inuet, but my Eskimo friends will quickly correct you and explain the the Inuit are Canadians and Eskimos are Alaskans and US citizens. The term Alaska Native is more encompassing as not all Alaskan tribes are Eskimo. but the problem with the term Alaska native is that there was litigation in the early years of Alaska's development and it was determined that an Alaskan native is a term that refers to anybody that settled and helped establish the territory and does not designate a race but an Alaskan connection so is applied to more than the  indigenous peoples of Alaska. In some situations a white person is considered an Alaskan native.