Creature Feature
The circumpolar North is rich in oral histories that infuse land-based knowledge with non-human forces to present profound lessons for negotiating the world. These stories of often frightening and sometimes helpful creatures also function as repositories for intergenerational knowledge, enriching and growing with each retelling. In this one-of-a-kind Portfolio, we share the tales of eight entities inhabiting the Arctic landscape through the eyes of artists working throughout Inuit Nunangat.
Long-standing stories of sometimes humorous and often terrifying creatures populate the rich oral histories of all four regions of Inuit Nunangat, contributing to the structure of Inuit societal and spiritual systems. In the following Portfolio, we provide insight into a host of spirits inhabiting the Arctic landscape through the artists who continue to tell their stories.
Akunialuk–pitaqaqtut unikkaaqtuat ilaanikut tipsinaqtut ammalu kapiasuanaqtut uumajunguat unikaaqtuatuqait tamainni tisamani Inuit Nunanganni, ikajuutijuq aaqiksimalugit Inuit nunaqatigiinit ammalu taqnilirijutigilugit. Ataani Sanajausimajut, takutitiniarata iniqaqtitilluta taqniqnik nunaqaqtunik Unkiuqtaqtmi taapkutigut sanaguaqtit suli manna unikaaqtuaqtanginik.
Qallupilluk /Qalupalik —
Venturing near the floe edge in spring, as the pack ice drifts, can be a dangerous endeavor, complicated even further by what lies beneath. Clad in eider down or a duck skin amauti (women’s parka), the malevolent, humanoid qallupilluk are said to live under the ice, waiting with sinuous tendrils and sinister claws to carry away children who play too close to the fringe of the northern sea. Rarely seen but often heard, they whisk their prey away on their backs to caves deep in the Arctic waters. In some tellings, particularly for inland communities like Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU, qallupilluk also dwell in the depths of certain lakes. In others, the creatures are said to take the form of various Arctic animals to trick victims into approaching the boundary between land and sea. Yet, in each instance of the cautionary tale, used to warn children of the dangers inherent in the northern landscape, an echoing knock on the breaking sheets of ice signals both the natural and supernatural threat waiting below.
Qallupilluk /Qalupalik —
Ing ur avak&uniqanigij an gan is in aaqupiq ga akut,tai mal u sikuqatlaatillugu,ul uri ana run na qtuq,qauji man aq ran il us una taqaq ma ga at ataani. An ur aaqaqp al au qtu tm itiqq inga lik ob valuunn ii tniq li qnik am au tiqaq&utik,ka pp asuk ti ti jut, inuuquji ga lu aq&utikQ all up illuk uqausiuvaktut nunaqaqtut ataani sikutuqait, utaqqijut amaqniaramik nut aqqanikpingua li q pat aqa ni lu a li q pat asikjamut. Takujaulauqsi mag atikkisu an it us aajausuugul lu tik,tig us isuu tn ir in iaq tam iknik amaq&ugit itijuni Ukiuqtaqtuq imagini. Ilagit unikaat, piluaqtumik sinaaganik qaniksangituni suuqlu Qamanituaq, Nunavut, Qallupilluk nunaqasuuttauq itijuni taqsiqni. Asigit, uumajut inuunatik uqausiusimajut niq jut inggu ag usuut na lu li q ti ti lu tikqaijunik sinaagini tariut.Su li, atuniqanuilijuv in ii tunikaaq tau t ia rasuk&utik,k appia sa ari jutigi lug it nut aqqanutul uri ana qtunik,kasuktuq pal atijuq suratirijuq sikunik taimaituq nunatuinaugami ammalu nalunaqtunik taimaititaugami kappaianaqmata ataaniitut utaqijut.
Inukpasugjuit —
Giants known as inukpasugjuit that tower above humans have travelled and left their mark across the Arctic, their footprints still visible on the land. Some malevolent, others kind, giants have been the subject of many stories told and artworks made by Inuit. There are stories of giants who were so large they would mistake polar bears for foxes and bowhead whales for fish. A famous giant was said to be able to walk across mountains in one step and later adopted a human son to help him pick lice as big as lemmings from his head. Some say that giants sleep for hundreds of years and that if you see a mountain on an otherwise featureless terrain, it may be a giant deep in slumber.
Inukpasugjuit —
Makua Inukpasugjuit takujut anginiqsait inuknit namutuinaaqpalauqmijut ammalu tamaaniituviniunigit saqijaaqtuqaqtuq nanituinnaq Ukiuqtaqtumi,tumigit takuksaujut nunami. Ilaanikut alianaqtuulutik, asigilu inutiavaulutik, Inukpasugjuit unikaagusimajut amisuni unikaaqtuani ammalu sanayausimayuni Inuknit. Unikaaqsimajuqaqtuq Inukpasugjuit angiluamut tammautauvalauqtut nanuit tiriganiaqgunasugiyaulutik ammalu aqviita iqaluunasugiyaulutik. Qauyimayaulaangijuq tainna pisusuuq innaarutigut qaaquppak&ugit ammalu qagauliqmat tiguaqniku inukmik iqnirijauyumik ikajuqniaqmat kumaijaqlugu kumangit angitigijut avingatitut niaquani. Ilagit uqasuut Inukpasugjuit sinisuut 100 ukiunut ammalu takuguvit innaaruqmik timiqaquujijumik nunatuinnaqmi, taapna Inukpasugjuit siniktuq.
Tuurngaq —
Tuurngait are rarely seen, but are responsible for much activity, both malignant and benevolent. While they are known to invite naïve people into their cave-dwellings in mountains and cliffs to trap and eat them, these beings can also be helpful when summoned by powerful angakkuit (shamans) in times of need. The tuurngait are shapeshifters of sorts and can take on a multitude of forms. Some are only visible to the angakkuq who summoned them, while others take on an almost demonic look, with bared teeth, horns and long talons, still others are unassuming and appear harmless, a tactic that helps lure people back to their homes. The Torngat Mountains in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut are given their name because they are said to be home to these spirits.
Tuurngaq —
Tuurngait takuyaulausimatsiangitut, kisiani qanuiliuqtitivalauqtut, tamainnik aliagiyaujut ammalu inutiavaujunaq&utik. Qaujimayaulauqtut qaiquurivalauniginik nunaqaqqaaqsimajunik tisimiknutangiraqmiknut innaaruqni ammalu siviganiginni innaruit pilugit ammalu niqilugit, taapkuatauq ikajurunalauqtut tiliyaujaraagamik sangijunik angakkuqnit kisaniuliraagat. Ukua Tuurngait kisuruqpalautut kisutuinatsiamik. Ilagit kisiani takuksarusuut taapkunuga angakkuqnut qaiqujiyunut, asiginittauq saqititauvalauqtut saataanasititut tauttuqaqtut, kigutiqaratik, nakjuqaqtut ammalu isigayaaqaqtut, suli asingit inutiavait ammalu takusauniga iqsinaruminangitut, taimana kisiani inuknik angiraujijunaramik. Taapna Torngat Innaaruit Nunavikmi ammalu Nunatsiavavummi atiqaqtitijut taapkuniga angirarikmatjuk.
Kajutajuq —
A knocking heard on the ice walls of an igloo is cause for alarm, for it is believed that those who behold the ominous visitor will soon after fall ill. Lurking outside is the kajutajuq, a head with no body and no arms, just feet. In place of cheeks, she bares breasts and on her chin, a vulva. A similar creature, the tunituaruk, takes the same form, but also wears tunniit (facial tattoos). These creatures linger in the igloos abandoned by migrating camps, surprising people who enter looking for a place to stay. The figure of kajutajuq was an ongoing source of inspiration for Davidialuk Alasua Amittu (1910–1976) who depicted her in countless sculptures and nearly a dozen prints. Amittu imagines the kajutajuq with a family and shows her giving birth and singing atop an igloo. Despite these sometimes joyous depictions, the artist calls her evil. His sons Aisa and Johnny Amittu have also dedicated a significant part of their practices to representing these figures who haunt the Ungava Peninsula.
Kajutajuq —
Kasuktuqtumik tusaqtut igluvigaqmi kappasuliqtitivalauqtut, ukpirusulauqtut naammangitualukmik qaijuqaqtuq taimalu qagatsiaq qanimakniarami. Silami qanittuqsiuqtuq Kajutajuq niaquqaqtuq timiqarani ammalu taliqarani, isigaqatuinnaqtuq. Uluaqaqviksaraluagmigut, iviagiqaqtuq ammalu taplua uttuuluni. Mikijuruluk niqjutiqlaruluk, una Tunituaruk, taimannatauq aaqiksimajuq, kisiani tunniqaqtuq. Taapkua igluvigaqniisuut inuqaruniiqtuni nuktaqtuni, kapatitivalauqtut inuknik iniksaqsiuqtunik. Una kisunguaq Kajutajuq piugijauginaqpuq Davidialuk Alasua Amittu (1910–1976) saqitippalauqtanga amisuni sanaguaqgaqmini ammalu titiqtugaujaqsimajamini. Amittu isumagijaviniga Kajutajuq qatagutiqarasugilugu ammalu saqitippaktanga iqnijuq ammalu ingiyuq iklugivaq qaangani. Taapkuaguraluaqmata ilaanigut quviasuktunik saqititivalauqtuq, sanaguaqsimajuq taapkuniga satanasimiutauniraqtugu. Iqnigit Aisa ammalu Johnny Amittuq tunisimajangit angijumik ilaga pilirijutigivaktangit kisungut kappasaarijutigilugit Ungavami.
Mahahaa —
If you hear a haunting giggle carried by the Arctic wind, it may mean that the terrifying mahahaa is near. With a menacing smirk, horrific teeth and immense razor-sharp talons, this being wears a twisted smile while it stalks lone travellers during the winter months, impervious to the cold. Also known as qungalukkakkiit, the relatively small creature is routinely depicted wearing little clothing and almost always barefoot, with icy blue eyes that peer out from beneath a long, tangled mane. Perhaps most notable are its elongated fingers and similarly prolonged nails that it uses to tickle victims to death— all while grinning from ear to ear. However, this cruel figure is easily fooled. Elders suggest tricking the mahahaa into sharing one last drink by the water’s edge where soon-to-be victims can push the creature into the rushing current to escape.
Mahahaa —
Tusaaguvit iklamajakpalatijunik alianaqtut nunatuinnaganik Ukiuqtaqtuq anugianit, tukiqaqtuq kappinanaqtuq Mahahaa qanigijaqniiliqmat. Qaniinaqmigut qungatuq, kigutiqluktuq ammalu ipiktunik isigajaalik, tiqliaqsivaktuq inutuujunik aulaqsimajunik ukiukkut, ikpiginagu niklasuktummarialuk. Qaujimayaukmijuq taiyausuuguyuq Qungalukkakkiit, mikijuq uumajuq takujauvaktuq anguraaminik mikiksaqtuq ammalu kamilaaq&uni, tuguyuq&utik ijigik saqippaktut nujappiktut. Immaqaa ujiqnaluasuut inuganguagit takujuaalukmata ammalu takijuaaluukmata kukingit quinaksaarisuut kisiani tuqukpat – qungajaaq&utik aksuaaluk. Taimanaugaluaqtilugu, piungitualuugaluarami silaittuq. Innatuqait sakluqitiniraqpalauqput Mahahaa imiqtit&ugu kikliani immaq ajaktauniaqmat qaujitinnagu igiraniqmut imaanut qimaksiniaramik.
Sea Spirits —
Though Nuliajuk, also known as takannaaluk or Sedna, may be the most synonymous being to inhabit the frozen seas, she is not alone in the depths of the Arctic waters. Accompanying the goddess of the sea are a plethora of figures that appear to straddle both the human and animal worlds. These beings are most often portrayed with human faces, both male and female, and occasionally upper bodies clad in a parka or amauti (women’s parka), with their lower extremities resembling those of a fish as well as other northern fauna, such as a whale, walrus or seal. In many depictions in both carving and printmaking, these lively spirits appear helpful—aiding both Inuit and Arctic animals alike—while majestically swimming and playing games with one another. More sinister sea spirits inhabit the waters of Nunavik, such as the iikutajuitt, who attack hunters in their kayaks and are said be responsible for driving the ancient Tuniit from the land.
Tariup Taqnigit —
Taimannaugaluaqma Nuliajuk, taijausuugunmijuq Takannaaluk obvaluunniit Sedna, ajukasangit nunaqaqtut sikusimatilugu tariuq, tapna inutuungituq itijuni Ukiuqtaqtuq imagini. Piqatigilugu taapna imaqmiutaq tauptungit ajikasatsiagit inuup ammalu niqjutit. Ukua saqititauvaktut Inuktitut kiinaqaq&utik, tamaqmik angitut ammalu aqnait, ammalu ilaanikut timiga japasimavaktuq ammalu amausiqsimaluni, ataa iqaluuqujiluni ammalu ukiuqtaqtumi taruiqmi uumajut, suuqlu aqviq, aiviq, obvaluunniit nattiq. Saqititauqataqtut tamaini sanaguaqgaqni ammalu titiqtugaqsimajuni, ummariktut taqniit ikajuutijumiraqraluaq&utik – Ikajuqlutik tamainik Inuknik ammalu ukiuqtaqtuq niqjutiginik – Puijurauyaqtut ammalu pingguaqatigiit. Tamapkuali kappianaqtut tariup taqnigit nunaqaqtut imagini Nunavik, suuqlu tamapkua Iikutajuitt, paavalauqtut angunasuktinik maqaitinik qayaqmiitunik ammalu imaatitinikiuguuq ittaqnitanik Tuniit nunamit.