The indigenous inhabitants of Alaska once known as Eskimos are part of the Inuit population, hardy hunters that originally lived in northern regions of the United States, Canada, Greenland, and Russia. Although their traditional way of life has been largely lost to more modern ways, the unwritten Eskimo legends and stories from earlier days were passed down through the years and now are being recorded by scholars.
Today the preferred title for these people is Inuit, which means 'real people' in their own language. 'Eskimo' means 'raw meat eaters', a name given the northern hunters by American Indians who lived farther south. The tundra offers little food but meat from walrus, seal, and whale, and fuel for fires is hard to get.
Life is harsh and uncertain on the tundra, even today with modern housing, heating stoves, and transportation by snowmobile rather than dog sled. In ancient times, winter was a time of endurance, while the short summer months meant open waters and time for hunting. Death was a constant threat, from the dangers of the hunt, starvation, drowning, or illness and infirmity. Hunters risked their lives every time they went out.
Not all the houses were igloos. These were ice houses built for winter quarters, when sea and land were covered by ice and game was scarce. Other forms of housing included permanent stone huts and skin tents used during summer hunts.
Like other peoples who lived by hunting, Eskimos had a reverence for life. Prey animals were thought to have souls and to willingly give up their lives to feed the people. Hunts were begun with prayer and ceremony. Spirits were believed to live all around in nature, and gods lived underneath the sea or in the sky.
Supernatural elements are in all of these stories. Animals, who often are spirits in disguise, speak with men. The spirit-animals often help the heroes to overcome the odds. Some spirits are malevolent, and witchcraft features in some stories. Gods were believed to live in the sky and under the sea, while animals had souls. Offending the spirits was not a good idea.
The legends reflect the harsh conditions of life near the Arctic Circle. The extended family was the basis of society and the main form of security. Being an orphan was a vast misfortune, and survival of those bereft of family was uncertain. Many great heroes began life as despised and mistreated orphans, shunned or barely tolerated. Hunting, hunger, and eating play a large part in these stories. Origin tales tell of the beginnings of sun, moon, stars, animals, and humans. Not all spirits were benign, and witchcraft was practiced and feared.
The Eskimo legends are not artistic or poetic, like the ballads of Greece or Rome or Norse folktales. Most European myths were re-written by gifted storytellers or set to music as ballads. The stories of the north are oral tales, and the direct translations are difficult to follow. Fortunately, there are scholarly summaries that make it easier to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of these grim tales.
Today the preferred title for these people is Inuit, which means 'real people' in their own language. 'Eskimo' means 'raw meat eaters', a name given the northern hunters by American Indians who lived farther south. The tundra offers little food but meat from walrus, seal, and whale, and fuel for fires is hard to get.
Life is harsh and uncertain on the tundra, even today with modern housing, heating stoves, and transportation by snowmobile rather than dog sled. In ancient times, winter was a time of endurance, while the short summer months meant open waters and time for hunting. Death was a constant threat, from the dangers of the hunt, starvation, drowning, or illness and infirmity. Hunters risked their lives every time they went out.
Not all the houses were igloos. These were ice houses built for winter quarters, when sea and land were covered by ice and game was scarce. Other forms of housing included permanent stone huts and skin tents used during summer hunts.
Like other peoples who lived by hunting, Eskimos had a reverence for life. Prey animals were thought to have souls and to willingly give up their lives to feed the people. Hunts were begun with prayer and ceremony. Spirits were believed to live all around in nature, and gods lived underneath the sea or in the sky.
Supernatural elements are in all of these stories. Animals, who often are spirits in disguise, speak with men. The spirit-animals often help the heroes to overcome the odds. Some spirits are malevolent, and witchcraft features in some stories. Gods were believed to live in the sky and under the sea, while animals had souls. Offending the spirits was not a good idea.
The legends reflect the harsh conditions of life near the Arctic Circle. The extended family was the basis of society and the main form of security. Being an orphan was a vast misfortune, and survival of those bereft of family was uncertain. Many great heroes began life as despised and mistreated orphans, shunned or barely tolerated. Hunting, hunger, and eating play a large part in these stories. Origin tales tell of the beginnings of sun, moon, stars, animals, and humans. Not all spirits were benign, and witchcraft was practiced and feared.
The Eskimo legends are not artistic or poetic, like the ballads of Greece or Rome or Norse folktales. Most European myths were re-written by gifted storytellers or set to music as ballads. The stories of the north are oral tales, and the direct translations are difficult to follow. Fortunately, there are scholarly summaries that make it easier to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of these grim tales.
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