Skraeling

"Skraeling" is a term used by Norse explorers, particularly the Vikings, to refer to the Indigenous peoples they encountered in North America, specifically around Greenland and modern-day Canada, around the 10th century. The word itself is believed to derive from Old Norse, possibly meaning "wretched" or "weak," reflecting the Norse perspective of these encounters. The Skraelings included various groups, such as the Inuit and the ancestors of the Algonquin-speaking peoples. The interactions between the Norse and Skraelings were complex, involving trade, conflict, and cultural exchange.