ABSTRACT
The impact of a technological development, the mechanical snow vehicle, or snowmobile, is only beginning to be documented. During a five-year interval Hanson watched the arrival of the snowmobile into Alaska and its rapid sweep through the Eskimo cultures, displacing the dogteam and creating many changes in the lifestyle of the arctic people. The winter of 1967 and 1968 saw a significant increase in snowmobiles from five to sixteen. Gasoline prices were eight times those in the continental United States, and most of the snowmobile owners owed money from the original purchase of their machines and/or for repairs. Within a brief period of six years the snowmobile entered and totally disrupted the Nunamiut culture. The Anaktuvuk Eskimos are no longer in harmony with their environment. Though a dwindling fuel supply – the Eskimos were using willows at a more rapid rate than they were being regenerated – indicated that a pressing problem was approaching, all was relatively calm.
