Another story about Ekeagualuk

1974

Inscription: The father, with his two sons, has returned to the place from which his son escaped the great sea spirit. The father has a large killing spear, which he had made to kill any frightful or terrifying beast. This spear had a very thick heavy shaft. The father and his two sons had gone to where the older son had seen the two large ice floes covered with sleeping animals. As they approached the ice, the sleeping things dove into the water. The father and his sons hurried to this place. He instructed his sons to tie their kayaks together and then they made themselves ready to fight. Seeing a dark shape approach from under the water, the old man stabbed with all his might with his great killing spear. The spirit had been stabbed and the life quickly began to pass from it. The other spirits in the water, seeing this, retreated quickly. As the stabbed one came to the surface, it made a sound like “eeke, eeke” and from this sound got its name Ekeagualuk. The great water spirit was the greatest of all the evil spirits and it was killed by the old man. The other evil spirits left, as they knew they had now been defeated. Now, however, they are returning again and increasing in numbers. Stonecut

35.6 × 50.8 cm

COURTESY ART GALLERY OF GUELPH