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Qargi: sweating in the Arctic community house
People knew the sweat bath in the far north of America, too. Among the Yup'ik and the Inuit or Iñupiat of Alaska it took place in the qargi – a large, semi-subterranean community house for men.
Updated: September 2026 · independent guide, sources linked
Warmth for long winters: wall thickness and insulation for a sauna cabin are explained in our guide.
Sauna cabin guide →At a glance
| Who | Yup'ik, Inuit/Iñupiat and Deg Hit'an in Alaska |
|---|---|
| Construction | large semi-subterranean house, two to three times the size of a dwelling |
| Use | workshop, meeting place, dance hall, school – and sweat bath |
| Access | usually men only |
A house for everything
The qargi (also qasgiq) was the centre of a village. Here men built boats, repaired equipment, took sweat baths, taught the boys and held dances. It was courthouse, church, workshop, dance hall and reception centre all in one. Women were usually not allowed in.
Young men learned to make tools and weapons here and listened to the traditions of their forefathers.
History at a glance
- Before the 1890sEvery Iñupiaq settlement has one or more of these ceremonial houses.
- 1890sChristian missionaries arrive in Alaska; village life changes.
- Until 1950In Chevak, Alaska, schooling still takes place in the qasgiq and in people's homes.
A note on names
People used to speak of "Eskimos". Many of those concerned find this umbrella term inappropriate, so we use the peoples' own names, such as Yup'ik, Inuit and Iñupiat.
Related traditions
Many cultures have a building just for sweating – from the banya to the Finnish sauna cabin. Further south in North America, the sweat lodge is widespread.
Warmth for long winters: wall thickness and insulation for a sauna cabin are explained in our guide.
Sauna cabin guide →More sauna types: Finnish sauna · Smoke sauna · Wood-fired sauna · Electric sauna · Barrel sauna · Sauna cabin · Infrared sauna · Bio sauna · Steam room · Kelo sauna · Kota sauna · Mobile sauna
Sweat baths of other cultures: Banya (Eastern Europe) · Roman baths · Hammam · Sweat lodge (North America) · Temazcal (Mesoamerica) · Steppe nomads (Scythians) · Hanjeungmak (Korea) · Mushiburo (Japan) · Sweathouses (Ireland)
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