Kylitak
The Kylitak are an ethnic group which primarily live on the island of Kitlineq. They are experts at living in the harsh and cold environment of the far north, and the tribes of the Kylitak are thriving and prosperous.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Kylitak speak Kitlin, which has several dialects across Kitlineq and on the nearby islands.
Art & Architecture
Kylitak buildings are made of peat and timbers, and are very good at protecting their inhabitants from the harsh climate. Inside, they are warm and spacious, and typically decorated with carvings and woven tapestries depicting scenes from nature and mythology. Abstract designs are also common.
Foods & Cuisine
The Kylitak has strict rules about when in the year certain foods can be eaten. With plants, this is largely dictated by when a particular plant is in season, and with animals it is related to the annual hunts that occur throughout the year. When a food is in its proper time, they tend to prepare it minimally, seeking to preserve and emphasize the natural flavor of the food. An exception to this is food that is dried for preservation - dried foodstuff is always considered seasonable, but it is reserved for conditions when fresh food is unavailable. In good years, the Kylitak may not resort to the dried food stocks at all.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The Kylitak mark the year by a succession of hunts and festivals. Each type of game on the island and in the waters has their own season to be hunted, and is not taken during the rest of the year. The most significant hunts are the mammoth hunt in late summer, and the whale hunt in the spring. These hunts are undertaken with great ceremony, and the catch is vital to the survival of the community throughout the year.
Another important custom among the Kylitak is that of the iltqanuk, or name-parent. Children are named for a person who has deceased, and this person becomes the third parent of the child. They are expected to inherit some traits from their iltqanuk, usually those of a mental or spiritual nature. Some even inherit memories or personality traits. Names are not gendered among the Kylitak, and a child may have an iltqanuk of any gender. Since they do not use family names, the use of ephitets are common to distinguish between those who share an iltqanuk - there ephitets can be based on personal characteristics, or they can be based on their parentage (patronyms or matronyms).
Common Taboos
There are several taboos among the Kylitak. Some of the most significant include eating a food outside of its season, the writing of names, and the extension of the incest taboo to include name-siblings, children who share the same iltqanuk, or name-parent.
Major organizations
The Kylitak have traditionally formed no organizations larger than the tribe, but have recently chosen to form a confederation to better deal with the other nations of the Great Ring. Each tribe selects a few members to represent the tribe on a council of elders, and they meet annually at Sakeligaq to discuss issues which impact the whole population. This meeting has rapidly become a great celebration and festival, where all the tribes converge on the town to hold feasts, athletic competitions, and religious ceremonies.
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