The Eskimo stories and legends have an almost spellbinding power over people just as much today as they have for hundreds of years. Living out on the ice of the Canadian arctic, the Inuit people live some of the toughest lives on earth. Each day is a challenge as they cope with frigid temperatures, lack of food and other natural disasters.
The constant struggle to survive has produced a people who's lives are dominated by fear. They are rightfully afraid of the world around them. The ice is unpredictable, the polar bears are ferocious and the is the constant threat of blizzards. In order to survive the Inuit have developed a very unique world view and set of beliefs.
In addition to the lack of a central figure there is also no belief in the afterlife or the typical heaven or hell of Western religions. This is most likely due to the fact that survival was so challenging that the people did not need to worry about what would happen to them after death. Most of the traditional stories are about fear. People were afraid of the unknown and in a such a harsh and unforgiving place there was a lot to fear.
The beliefs are unique because there are no gods to worship or rulers to praise. An Inuit story is more likely to be about the rituals and taboos that are an integral part of life on the ice. The people are far more focused on making it through this world than worrying about the next. There is no notion of heaven or hell, no eternal damnation or punishment. Living on the ice is punishment enough for these people.
Over the centuries many legends have developed. Most tales are passed on from one generation to the next by oral tradition. Each group would have a designated story teller who was responsible for memorizing the legends and passing them on. Interestingly many of the legends can be traced back hundreds of years and seem to fit in well with what is known of the changing arctic landscape.
Although many of the Inuit have now adopted Christianity as their official religion, many still believe in the old ways. In fact it might be fairer to say that they have adapted the Christian beliefs to fit in with their traditional ways. There is still a strong belief in spirits, known as Anirniit.
The movie is extremely powerful and met with instant critical acclaim. The simple message is timeless and the native actors give stunning performances. The incredible scenery out on the ice is unforgettable and the movie has been shown to audiences around the world. The story is so compelling and presents aspects of life most of us have never thought about.
Taboos are a central theme of the Eskimo stories. Breaking a taboo either by accident or intent was seen as a very dangerous act. It could bring the wrath of the gods down on the family or the entire community. When survival is so difficult it is not surprising that these hardy people should have such a strong belief in the spirits of their ice world.
The constant struggle to survive has produced a people who's lives are dominated by fear. They are rightfully afraid of the world around them. The ice is unpredictable, the polar bears are ferocious and the is the constant threat of blizzards. In order to survive the Inuit have developed a very unique world view and set of beliefs.
In addition to the lack of a central figure there is also no belief in the afterlife or the typical heaven or hell of Western religions. This is most likely due to the fact that survival was so challenging that the people did not need to worry about what would happen to them after death. Most of the traditional stories are about fear. People were afraid of the unknown and in a such a harsh and unforgiving place there was a lot to fear.
The beliefs are unique because there are no gods to worship or rulers to praise. An Inuit story is more likely to be about the rituals and taboos that are an integral part of life on the ice. The people are far more focused on making it through this world than worrying about the next. There is no notion of heaven or hell, no eternal damnation or punishment. Living on the ice is punishment enough for these people.
Over the centuries many legends have developed. Most tales are passed on from one generation to the next by oral tradition. Each group would have a designated story teller who was responsible for memorizing the legends and passing them on. Interestingly many of the legends can be traced back hundreds of years and seem to fit in well with what is known of the changing arctic landscape.
Although many of the Inuit have now adopted Christianity as their official religion, many still believe in the old ways. In fact it might be fairer to say that they have adapted the Christian beliefs to fit in with their traditional ways. There is still a strong belief in spirits, known as Anirniit.
The movie is extremely powerful and met with instant critical acclaim. The simple message is timeless and the native actors give stunning performances. The incredible scenery out on the ice is unforgettable and the movie has been shown to audiences around the world. The story is so compelling and presents aspects of life most of us have never thought about.
Taboos are a central theme of the Eskimo stories. Breaking a taboo either by accident or intent was seen as a very dangerous act. It could bring the wrath of the gods down on the family or the entire community. When survival is so difficult it is not surprising that these hardy people should have such a strong belief in the spirits of their ice world.
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