Inuit myths and legends

16/04/2023

Sedna is a goddess in Inuit mythology who is associated with the sea and marine animals. She is also known as Nuliajuk, Arnakuagsak or Arnaqquassaaq, depending on the region and dialect.

According to Inuit mythology, Sedna was a beautiful young woman who was forced into marriage with a bird by her father. When she tried to return to her family, her father threw her into the sea, where she transformed into a sea goddess.

Sedna is often depicted as a half-woman, half-fish creature, with a long braid that represents seaweed. She is also associated with sea creatures such as whales, seals, and fish.

In Inuit culture, Sedna is considered a powerful and important goddess, as she is believed to control the supply of sea animals that are essential for the Inuit's survival. The Inuit people offer prayers and offerings to Sedna to ensure a bountiful harvest and to appease her when they have been disrespectful to the sea animals.

Sedna is also believed to have the power to influence the weather and is often called upon during storms at sea.

Overall, Sedna is an important figure in Inuit mythology and plays a crucial role in the Inuit people's relationship with the sea and its creatures.

08/02/2022

Native children should be taught how to build these

https://ntvho.pe/3soQvxr

13/11/2021

Vanishing Point

This feature documentary tells the story of 2 Inuit communities of the circumpolar north—one on Canada’s Baffin Island, the other in Northwest Greenland—that are linked by a migration …

07/11/2021

ᖁᕕᐊᓲᑎᒋᓗᒍ ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᓕᒫᒥ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᐅᓪᓗᖁᑎᖓ!
Happy International Inuit Day!

29/10/2021

26/10/2021

https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/inuit-religious-traditions

INUIT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS INUIT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS . The Inuit (Eskimo) live in the vast Arctic and sub-Arctic area that stretches from the eastern point of Siberia to eastern Greenland. Of the approximately 105,000 Inuit, 43,000 live in Greenland, 25,000 in Arctic Canada, 35,000 (plus 2,000 Aleu...

22/10/2021

In celebration of ITK's 50th anniversary we would like to highlight 50 Inuit books and artworks. Give these works a google and enjoy! part 1

How Things Came to Be : Inuit Stories of Creation Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley

Call me Ishmael : memories of an Inuvialuk elder Ishmael Alunik

Proud to be Inuvialuit / Quviahuktunga Inuvialuugama James Pokiak (author) and Mindy Willett (co-author)

The Delta is My Home / Uvanga Nunatarmuitmi aimayuaqtunga Tom McLeod (author) and Mindy Willet (co-author)

Not My Girl Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and Christy Jordan-Fenton

Titus Joshua and Josua Obed : memoirs from northern Labrador Titus Joshua and Josua Obed

Remembering the years of my life : journeys of a Labrador Inuit hunter Paulus Maggo

Woman of Labrador Elizabeth Goudie

Sketches of Labrador Life Lydia Campbell

An Inuk Boy Becomes a Hunter John Igloliorte

Sanaaq Mitiarjuq Nappaaluk

What I Remember, What I Know Larry Audlaluk

Traditions Relating to Customary Law in Nunavik Lisa Qiluqqi Koperqualuk

The Right to Be Cold Sheila Watt-Cloutier

Enchanted Owl Kenojuak Ashevak

Memories of an ancient past Abraham Ruben

Manhole Hunter Jesse Tungilik

Playing Kickball with Demons Pitseolak Ashoona

Three Generations Annie Pootoogook

Pagniq Sniffs the Wind Pudlo Pudlat

Whale Hunt: I Think Everyone Is Here Megan Kyak

Nanuk Braiding My Hair Before Bingo Darcie Bernhardt

Drummers Tale David Ruben

Moving with joy across the ice while my face turns brown from the sun Maureen Gruben

04/12/2020

Baby That Became A Ptarmigan

Once there was a woman who had a little baby that was old enough to sit up. They were
living in a huge tent. While everyone was outside doing work, the lady also went out
leaving the baby to stay in the tent alone. She rushed because she was worried about the
baby.
After a very short time she came in again. The baby was still playing sitting up. The baby
was not paying any attention to anything and did not look towards the entrance. The
mother suddenly felt a deep love for her child and without thinking scared him as she
came in. The baby took flight from being frightened. It flew around inside the tent trying
to escape from his mother.
As soon as the mother found out what had happened, she stretched out her arms trying to
catch her baby and calling him,
“Here, here are your breasts”.
Even though she tried ever so hard to get her baby to feed from her breasts, the baby tried
to escape through the entrance. The baby finally escaped because it became a ptarmigan.
The woman also became ptarmigan and followed her baby. She cried so hard looking for her baby that her eyebrows turned red. Thats why ptarmigans have red eybrows.

04/12/2020

How Indians Became Nephews.

When there were only a few Qablunaat in Churchill they asked all the Indians who were
on the land to come there. A little distance from the buildings they poured explosive
powder on the ground. This was unknown to the Indians and was done to trick them in
order that they might stop massacring the Inuit.
Two Indians were saved. They were a boy and a girl who were to marry and multiply.
So it was that every Indian came down. The Qablunaat poured some powder on the
ground and told the Indians to take some. A Qablunaaq was waiting up wind with a
match. He was instructed to light a match and run up wind.
He lit a match and the powder exploded. It is unknown whether the Qablunaaq had a
chance to run away or not.
The Indians who were busy scrambling for powder were immediately wiped out as a
result of the explosion. It was so great that there was not a bone left of the Indians.
After what had happened the massacre ended and Indians and Inuit became nephews.

04/12/2020

How Qablunaat Became.

On the other side of Kuugik is a small rocky island. Opposite this tiny island lived a man
and his daughter along with one dog.. The man normally hunted while they lived in
isolation and they had lots of food and the daughter always stayed behind.
Now it so happened that unawares, the girl was fantasizing, and before long, letting their
only dog to mate her. Apparently this had been going on for a long time. Because her
father did not want to be under suspicion in the event they get together with other people,
upon discovering what was happening between his daughter and the dog, took them to an
island close by.
It was while the girl and the dog were living on an island that the girl gave birth to
puppies. They were not real human beings but half dogs.
Seeing that they were her children she loved and cared for them. They were still on an
island when the half-dogs grew to be big pups. The father of the girl continued to hunt
and would take some meat to his would-be-in-laws if they were human beings.
The pups were bigger and more energetic when the mother said to them,
“When your grandfather comes to bring meat again, pretend to be licking his qajaq and
capsize it.”
So it was that the old man was once again making his way to the island with a load of
meat. After he unloaded the meat the pups went to his qajaq to lick blood on it and
capsized it. And of course the old man drowned.
They had no body to do the hunting for them anymore, and they were still on the island.
They could not and did not make any attempt to wade on the main land.
By now the pups were half grown and again the girl had an idea. She loved all the pups.
She thought she would cut the soles off her squire flipper kamiks above the seams to
maintain the shape of the sole. Squire flipper hides dry up solid and that is especially why
she chose her soles. She would put the pups in the sole and let them sail away.
So it was that she let them sail away. She sent two groups in the same kamik soles. As
they came to a distance she saw sails come up.
As the pups were sailing away she called to them,
“Work and build so you won’t be in need, defend me when time comes.”
So the pups that sailed off became Qablunaat. They worked and built great things in
accordance to their mother’s call.

03/12/2020

05/10/2020

Many Inuit believe spirits are passed on through names, and that children can take on the personality and physical traits of their namesakes. Naming is a significant tradition, that holds great honour and respect.

12/08/2020

14/06/2020

"I speak to you in plain words and in clear language. I love you. And I am with you... always."
Jesus

02/05/2020

27/02/2020

15/01/2020

10/12/2019

08/12/2019

25/11/2019

If you speak French, live near Quebec City and want to learn Inuktitut, there's a course for you starting in January at Laval University. The course,