they are sometimes called "eskimos", a word which likely comes from the algonquin language and may mean "eater of raw meat" which is a fallacy many believe due to misinformation. the term eskimo means "netter of snowshoes. most inuit prefer to be called by their own name, either the more general inuit particularly in canada or their actual tribe name. inuit is a tribe name but not all indigenous arctic peoples in north america are inuits. particularly in the united states alaska, the word eskimo would be accepted as a more general term, but would probably refer to themselves by their tribe name.