samedi 15 février 2014

Eskimo Stories Teach About The Spirits

By Krystal Branch


The incredibly harsh environment of the Canadian arctic has certainly helped to shape the lives and beliefs of the native Inuit people. They have to live and work in such extreme of cold that every day is a lesson in survival. It is no wonder that they have a very unique world view that perfectly captures their homeland. The Eskimo stories are not only fascinating in themselves but also offer a window into this inhospitable world and the people who call it home.

For thousands of years the Inuit have struggled with the brutal cold and harsh conditions of the frozen north. This place has really helped to create a world view that is unlike any other. The belief system is based more on fear than anything else. Many of the stories focus on the people's collective fear of a natural disaster or some type of bad luck befalling them.

The Inuit mythology is not like most belief systems. There are no gods, deities or rulers. There are no dreams of an afterlife in heaven. But there is a strong and constant belief in spirits and shaman. The people believe that every living creature, human or animal, has a soul. If an animal is killed for food the hunters must follow a strict ritual or the dead animals spirit may come back to haunt them.

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.

Spirits play a big part in any Inuit story. They are felt to be just as real as living humans. The spirits or, Anirniit, are the soul of a person or animal. They could be kind or evil, some were helpful to people, whilst others tried to do the humans harm or even kill them. Even more interesting is that the spirits could possess a person and take over their live. This in turn would bring all kinds of calamities down on the family.

When the story of Atanarjuat made it to the big screen viewers were amazed by the movie. It drew rave reviews from all around the globe. Audiences finally had the chance to see how profound and complex the Eskimo stories actually were. They were able to touch the hearts and souls of people from all over the world. In fact it was hailed as a breath of fresh air in a very jaded industry. The actors were all Inuit and this gave it an incredible level of authenticity.

Anirniit are believed to inhabit every living creature. This means that animals are just as important as people. To kill any animal as just as sacred as killing a human. The correct taboos must be upheld to ensure that the spirit of the dead animal does not come back to haunt the hunter.

The Canadian made movie Atanarjuat - The Fast Runner has been highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. It tells of a famous legend that has been passed down for hundreds of years. It shows that the Eskimo stories are still as powerful today as they have always been. Audiences have given the movie very high ratings.




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