For most Aboriginal groups in Canada, snow is an integral part of life for part of the year. They have developed an understanding of the physical nature of snow and how it changes. This understanding has allowed Aboriginal people to travel effectively on snow and to use it in many different ways.
Snow is a good insulator because it traps a lot of air.
A great number of animals live beneath the snow. It is used by groups in the Subarctic who have access to large amounts of loose snow. The igloo is the well-known snow shelter of the Arctic. This shelter requires the hard-packed, wind blown snow found in treeless areas which can be cut into blocks and fitted together. Both of these shelters provide insulation against extreme outdoor temperatures.