Adlets live in tribes made up of close-knit but contentious families. They live in the islands near the cold coasts and hunt whale and seal. Each family is led by the oldest man, aataq, who is responsible for the well-being of the family. Custom has it that the aataq cannot make any of his family work other than himself; he must request. If he is cruel or hurtful or abusive, the family will refuse, and the rest of the tribe will take care of them, shaming the aataq. A good aataq makes sure all of his kin are provided for.

Each tribe is run by a council of aataqs. There is no national ruling body; each tribe is independent.

Children are raised by their families, taught by the aataq to hunt, sail (qajaq), sledge, and build. Every family has lots of children; adlets tend to have many children at one time. If raised by a good aataq, the children will be able to take up tasks in the tribe by the age of 14 or so. If raised by a bad aataq, they will begin to rebel by age of nine or so. Gender is ascribed but fluid. Women have the right to refuse any suitor, and if they decide they don't like anyone in the tribe, they "marry a dog," indicating they wish to be married to someone from another tribe or to be alone.

Because adlet limbs and digits become animals if they are cut off, adlets will eat removed parts to prevent this from happening. For this same reason, they mutilate and eat the limbs and digits of their enemies. They also punish criminals with removal of hands, fingers, feet, or toes. The worst crimes are punished with drowning.

Adlets do not trust outsiders very much, but they can be won over with offerings of food or other necessities.