Lesson Forty-Nine

Inuit Disc Numbers

Dear History Enthusiasts

This week, we are exploring a lesser-known chapter of Canadian history: the Inuit disc number system. The Canadian government imposed this bureaucratic system in the mid-20th century, which left a lasting impact on Inuit communities and serves as a reminder of the challenges Indigenous peoples face under occupation.

What Were Inuit Disc Numbers?

In the 1940s, the Canadian government introduced the system as a means of identifying Inuit individuals. Unlike other cultures, traditional Inuit culture has a unique anthroponymic system, which uses a single name, often descriptive and unique, rather than a first and last name. However, this aspect of their culture made it particularly difficult for government officials record and track Inuit populations for administrative purposes, and so they assigned numbered identification tags to each individual. These small leather or fiber discs bore a unique number, which became an Inuit person’s official identity in government records. For example, someone might be known as E.6-935 rather than by their given name.

The system was widely used until the 1970s, when the government replaced it with Project Surname, an initiative allowing Inuit people to adopt standardized surnames instead of being identified by numbers.Although it was a step toward self-identification, many elders still remember the dehumanizing experience of being identified solely by a number. This practice has been used throughout history and is key in governmental focus on efficiency rather than the humanistic treatment of subjugated groups. Stripping individuals of their identity and personal history, it reduced them to bureaucratic entries rather than recognizing them as members of vibrant and distinct communities. The loss of traditional naming practices also severed an essential link to ancestry and heritage, leaving lasting emotional and social scars.

Disc Numbers and Disease

One of the most tragic aspects of the disc number system was its role in the treatment of Inuit people during tuberculosis outbreaks. In the mid-20th century, tuberculosis (TB) was rampant in Canada's Northern communities, exacerbated by overcrowded housing, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare access. When government health officials transported Inuit patients to Southern Canada for treatment, they were often recorded solely by their disc numbers. Tragically, many Inuit who died receiving treatment were buried far from their home, and families were never informed of their passing due to inadequate record-keeping lacking a link between personal nambers and disc numbers.

The legacy of the Inuit disc number system serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggles Indigenous communities face in reclaiming their identity, dignity, and rightful place in history.

Until next time, remember to embrace the lessons of history, but never get caught up in its cobwebs.

Warm regards,

Hugh