Northern Water Tribe

Notable Figures



 * Avatar Kuruk
 * Princess Yue
 * Chief Arnook
 * Pakku
 * Gran Gran
 * Yugoda
 * Hahn
 * Sangok

History


Unlike the obliterated Air Nomads and their southerly sister tribe, the Northern Water Tribe has survived a century of war with the Fire Nation, due to the defenses their icy terrain provides. Resting on the shores of the Northern Sea, behind high walls of ice and an ice gate and canal lock system passable only by the use of Waterbending, there lies a large and bustling monarchic nation-state. Ruled by Chief Arnook, the capital city features a palace, an army, and many skilled warriors, Healers, Waterbenders, and a hidden oasis which houses Tui and La, the Moon and Ocean Spirits. Flanked by icy sidewalks, the city roadways are canals, which people travel by gondola.

Located at the North Pole, the Northern Water Tribe is a huge, multi-tiered city built into the icy landscape. Looming over the city are giant ice cliffs from which it was originally built. The city rests on the shores of the Northern Sea, and behind it is an enormous frozen tundra.

Ages ago, Waterbenders built the city as a way to unite all the various Northern Tribes in one place. The Waterbenders used the ice and water to create the various temples, villages, and canals that comprise the city. Important to the city's transportation and defense are the canals. The canals are a series of interconnected waterways that spiral through the city. Boats, powered by Waterbenders, use these waterways to transport people and things. To get into the city from the ocean, boats enter a series of water-locking chambers. Once in, Waterbenders raise the water levels, lifting the boats until the vessel finally reaches the waterways of the Northern Water Tribe. This special entrance ensures that no unwanted ships can make it into the city. Because of these special security features and the city's location, the Northern Water Tribe has been able to fend off numerous Fire Nation attacks.

In the aftermath of the Fire Nation's siege of the North Pole, select benders and healers from the Northern Tribe left for the South Pole in an effort to rebuild their ravaged sister tribe.

Government
Government System: Patriarchal Monarchy

Head of State & Government: Chief

The Northern Tribe is a patriarchal monarchy but has the aspects of a tribal group because the Chief is the Head of State. Labor division is dependent on gender: men serve as hunters, fishermen and warriors, and women serve as homemakers. In the Northern Water Tribe, if a woman wanted to learn to fight using waterbending, she would be denied her wishes. This however was changed when Katara sought to find a master.

Customs


Marriages are arranged when tribe members turn sixteen, with the bride in particular having no say in the matter. Engaged women wear "betrothal necklaces", navy blue chokers bearing blue stone pendants carved by their husband-to-be. Female Waterbenders are further marginalized, forbidden by custom from learning Waterbending for fighting purposes. Instead, they are trained as Healers, able to use bending to heal wounds. While the Southern Water Tribe seems to have similar traditional roles, they are apparently much more strict in the North, as Katara, who was raised in the South, expresses surprise and anger when she is initially denied equal treatment in waterbending training. Bato, a Southern Tribe Male and a friend of Katara's father, showed no signs of disapproval when observing Katara's waterbending skills.

Natural Resources and Foods


Inhabiting frozen poles near the seas, the Water Tribes inherently are dependent on the oceans for a majority of their natural resources and well as the bounty of the frozen tundra. Sea prunes are a favorite, while giant sea crabs are considered a delicious delicacy to those in the Northern Sea. Squid and seaweed can be used to make a wide variety of dishes, including soup, seasoning, and even bread and cookies.

Skins from seals are use to create tents, while pelts from polar bears and other furry animals are used as clothing and to cover barren surfaces. Naturally, hunters and fishermen of the Water Tribes are some of the best in the world in their field.

One of the most prevelent natural resources of the Northern Water Tribe is ice. Ice is used as the main building material used to make buildings, walls, dikes, locks, and other structures, as well as a medium of bending.

Chief Temple
The Chief's palace is a large structure built on top the highest tier of the capitol city and is the most recognizable landmark. In here the Chief Arnook sits and makes decisions regarding the Tribe.



Healing Huts
The Healing Huts are small classroom-like structures. In these, Yugoda teaches her young, female students how to use their healing abilities properly, with mannequins with human chi paths carved into them.



Spirit Oasis
The Spirit Oasis is a verdant garden located in a cave in the Northern Water Tribe's capital city at the North Pole. Although the land outside is perpetually frozen, the Spirit Oasis itself is warm. According to DVD commentary for "Siege of the North", it is a place where the Spirit World overlaps with the mortal world.

Armory
Located on the warrior training grounds, the Water Tribe armory is where Water Tribe weapons are stored and kept in pristine condition. The armory doubles as a war planning room where orders are given to the warriors. Some Fire Nation uniforms are also kept there, captured about eighty five years prior, possibly during a previous expedition against the Northern Water Tribe.

Underground Ice Cavern
These interconnecting ice caverns are located underneath the city and were naturally created by the ocean water eroding away the ice. Seals and other animals live in these ice caverns and the only way to get to them is to swim underneath the freezing water.

Frozen Tundra
This massive stretch of arctic tundra covers most of the North Pole. The treacherous terrain makes it impossible for anyone to live there. Only highly skilled, arctic hunters travel on the terrain, hunting the animals that live there, and they never stay longer than a few days at a time. Heavy winter blizzards constantly pelt the tundra, and unstable ice sheets often give way under the slightest pressure. Even experienced Waterbenders and warriors think twice about venturing into this dangerous environment.

Fauna

 * Buffalo Yak
 * Koalaotters
 * Turtle Seals

Related Articles

 * Water Tribe
 * Southern Water Tribe
 * Foggy Swamp Tribe