How did the Inuit depend on the natural resources found in their environment to build their houses?

The Inuit people were nomads and lived off hunting and fishing. Most of the time they were on the go. The material used for building houses was leather, ice and local items. The Inuit were nomadic people, so they rarely stayed in one place for very long. Therefore, their houses had to be quick and easy to build.

During the summer, the Inuit built tents out of driftwood or poles covered with animal skins, mostly caribou or sealskin. The tents were not unlike the Plains tipis. People from different areas would form large villages during the summer. In the winter everyone scatted across the land into small bands again.

During the winter, Inuit families would follow the hunt. They needed a shelter that would keep them warm, and protect themselves.