Northern Water Tribe



Official Name: Norther Water Tribe Nicknames: No known nicknames

Characteristics
Direction: North Affiliation: Water Climate: Artic Tundra

Notible Figures

 * Avatar Kuruk
 * Princess Yue
 * Chief Arnook
 * Master 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.

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.



Appearance
Ethnically homogeneous, members of both tribes typically have light or deep brown hair, blue eyes and light brown/tan skintone. Water Tribe clothing is typically a set of blue anorak and trousers lined and trimmed with white fur, and worn with mittens and mukluks. Men may wear their hair long and half-up or in short ponytails (also known as "warrior's wolf tails"). Women plait and braid their hair in various styles, sometimes with accent beads, and many sport "hair loopies" in various styles. In the Northern Water Tribe, the people seem to be wearing a darker blue than Sokka and Katara, who are of the Southern Water Tribe.



Government
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 of her wishes. This however was changed when Katara sought to find a master.



Culture
The Water Tribe is divided into three distinct groups, primarily based on their geography and affinity for Waterbending. The Northern Tribe consists of the majority of the official remnants of their civilization, occupying the North Pole with a multitude of able benders. Though seperated, the southern and northern tribes continued to remain in contact prior to the war and at one time even retained a custom of coming together during a new moon.

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.

Season
Each of the Four Nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season. The Water Tribe's dominant season is winter. To an effect, more Waterbenders are born during winter than any other season and their powers are at their strongest during the season due to the longer nights. In actuality, both polar Tribes experience winter-like weather consistently, with snow falling year-round.

Natural Resources and Foods
Inhabiting frozen poles near the seas, the Water Tribes inherently are dependant 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.

Fauna
The most distinguishable fauna in the area consist of seals, which sport shells and flippers of sea turtles, and people have domesticated elk-yaks for riding.