Unikkaaqtuat: An Introduction to Inuit Myths and Legends

Auteur

Neil Christopher is an educator, author, and filmmaker. He first moved to the North many years ago to help start a high school program in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. It was those students who first introduced Neil to the mythical inhabitants from Inuit traditional stories. Together with his colleague, Louise Flaherty, and his brother, Danny Christopher, Neil started a small publishing company in Nunavut called Inhabit Media Inc., and has since been working to promote Northern stories and authors.

Germaine Arnattaujuq is an award-winning Inuit artist and illustrator, best known for her prints and etchings depicting Inuit myths and traditional ways of life. In 1999, she designed the special edition two-dollar coin commemorating the founding of the territory of Nunavut. She is the co-author, with Gyu Oh, of My Name Is Arnaktauyok: The Life and Art of Germaine Arnaktauyok, and she has illustrated numerous books. Germaine is the recipient of the 2021 Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts. She lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Texte du rabat

This definitive collection of Inuit legends is thoughtfully introduced and carefully annotated to provide the historical and cultural context in which to understand this rich oral tradition.

Résumé

Unikkaaqtuat is the Inuktitut word meaning "to tell stories."

This definitive collection of Inuit legends is thoughtfully introduced and carefully annotated to provide the historical and cultural context in which to understand this rich oral tradition. Fascinating and educational, this little-known part of Canada's heritage will captivate readers of all ages. As a work of historical and cultural preservation, this textbook will be invaluable to those studying Inuit.

Contenu

Table of Contents

Editor's Note ....................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Chapter One

How the World Came to Be and Other Creation Stories...................................................................25

The Struggle for Day and Night................................................................................................................................... 27

Origin of Death................................................................................................................................................................... 29

How Children were Formerly Obtained.................................................................................................................. 30

Thunder and Lightning................................................................................................................................................... 31

The Brother and Sister who Became Thunder and Lightning....................................................................... 33

Origin of the Sun and the Moon.................................................................................................................................. 35

The Mother of the Sea Mammals................................................................................................................................ 37

The Orphan Girl who Became the Mother of the Sea Mammals................................................................... 42

The Woman who Married the Dog ............................................................................................................................ 44

Origin of the Walrus and of the Caribou ................................................................................................................. 48

Origin of the Caribou....................................................................................................................................................... 50

Origin of the Narwhal...................................................................................................................................................... 51

How the Narwhal Came.................................................................................................................................................. 58

Origin of the Agdlaq......................................................................................................................................................... 62

The Hunters that Transformed into a Constellation.......................................................................................... 64

The Akla that Turned into Fog..................................................................................................................................... 65

Origin of Fog........................................................................................................................................................................ 67

Origin of the Red Phalarope and of the Web-footed Loon............................................................................... 71

The Ptarmigan.................................................................................................................................................................... 73

The Ptarmigan and the Snow Bunting..................................................................................................................... 74

The Ptarmigan and the Small Bird ............................................................................................................................ 75

The Wind .............................................................................................................................................................................. 76

The Loon and the Raven................................................................................................................................................. 77

Chapter Two

Mistreatment and Consequence ..............................................................................................................79

Qaudjaqdjuq........................................................................................................................................................................ 81

The Boy who Harpooned a Whale ............................................................................................................................. 86

The Artificial Skull that Frightened People to Death......................................................................................... 89

Papik....................................................................................................................................................................................... 91

Pautusôrssuaq, who Murdered his Uncle............................................................................................................... 95

The Wife-changers ........................................................................................................................................................... 98

The Man who did not Observe Taboos .................................................................................................................... 100

The Emigration to the Land Beyond the Sea......................................................................................................... 102

Podluksak............................................................................................................................................................................. 106

Murdering a Stranger......................................................................................................…