Todd Moody wrote:
>  This is why I am suspicious of quick generalizations from
> the Inuit or other relatively isolated breeding populations.

The Inuit are among the most genetically diverse people on earth for
several reasons.

They are the only culture that has existed in both the Old and New
Worlds for thousands of years.  It took the "cold war" to stop them from
traveling and inter-breeding across the Bearing Straits.  Many are today
becoming re-acquainted with their Russian cousins.

The arctic circle is much smaller than the equator.  The total land
area of this region is smaller than Australia and the natives have
long travelled it's entire area. Arctic dwellers found in Lapland are
related to North American Inuit.  Stefansson was actually famous for
(among other things) making first contact with blue eyed Inuit in the
Canadian Artic.

In the summer, the Inuit traditionally raided their southern neighbors
for goods and women.  The Indians of northern Canada were much afraid of
these raiders coming in their kayaks along the rivers that lead from the
Arctic.  Laplanders were also feared for this in Europe.

Ray Audette
Author "NeanderThin:A Caveman's Guide to Nutrition"
http://www.sofdesign.com/neander