In Alaska it’s a term used to describe multiple tribes. I suppose they only have Inuits in Canada....eh.
To Alaskan natives, the word Eskimo is analogous to the “N” word, just like the word squaw is to the “c” word. Now, I’m no PC speech nut, but IMHO, cultures have a right to determine which words are offensive to them. Italians, Jews, Chinese, whites, blacks, Hispanics, Alaskan Natives and any other cultural group. I don’t think people should lose their jobs over it, unless, perhaps, in the case of a politician who uses what amounts to dirty words, about his constituents. The guys who got in trouble, may not have, if they hadn’t followed up the word, “Eskimo”, with the words, “Can you smell them?”.
Remember how incensed we were about the Stzrok/Page remark about “smelly Wal-Mart people”? That offended us. If it’s ok for us to be offended by that, then it’s reasonable that there are certain words that offend others.