reading notes Eskimo folktales A (extra credit)

 1. The Coming of Men

Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921). 

    the origin of Earth is always really cool to learn about, especially from such unique cultures. I think it could be fun to imagine specifically where these came from (mountains plucked up with tweezers, great plains made by a heavy vase of water being sat on it, oceans from sadness). It's very unique that everything fell to form Earth and humans were raised from it. This really drives home the saying that we are one with the earth, that everything/everyone is connected. Children came from willow trees and flower bushes, not even being able to crawl. Man and woman found each other, but how? Were they always adults or did were they the first to grow up? They didn't know how to die and they lived in the dark with the only light come from lanterns until "let us have both light and death" was spoken be an elder. the light provided them with the ability to hunt and explore. Death provided them with the night sky, the moon and the stars. When men die, they become bright shiny objects in the dark sky. 

2. The Woman Who Had a Bear as a Foster-Son

Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921). 

     an old lady adopted a bear cub. She loved this bear and took care of it. It slept in bed with her, lived in her house, and she spoke to it like a human. Eventually the bear became to understand her and the human ways. The bear would play with the children when they asked. The bear was always careful to put his claws away when the kids were near. Eventually the bear outgrew the children and began to play with the adults. the bear grew so strong they didn't know what to do with him, so they decided to take him hunting with them. On one trip, hunters from the north tried to hunt the bear but his friends saved him. The old lady gave him a leather collar (protected him). The bear was an excellent hunter and never missed a day regardless of the weather. the old lady told her bear to never attack a human, unless they attack first. One day, the bear came home very late from hunting but jumped into bed with his foster mom. She went outside and found the dead body of a man. long after this, she told the bear that he needed to leave her, he would be killed if he stayed with her. The woman waited for a cloudless day to send the bear on his way, she was very upset when the day came. As he was leaving she marked his side with oil and soot. (legend of a huge bear with a black mark on its side hunting) 

"Little Bear"

since there ice and seal hunting--- polar bear? 

3. Qalagánguasê, Who Passed to the Land of Ghosts

    a story about a body who was orphaned at a young age and then shortly after his big sister died and he was left all alone. He was paralyzed from the waist down. One day when everyone was hunting he heard scary noises and crawled his way to the house next door. He was hiding behind dried out skins when he saw a ghost enter the house. the ghost walked over to the water tub and took 2 drinks from it, which was noticeable when others arrived. This happened again except this time the house shook before a crowd of ghosts entered. this time his sister came. the ghosts sat on the ground, played games, and laughed. at first the boy was scared but then became entertained by them and enjoyed it. the ghost told the boy not to tell tales and his strength would return. as the hunters returned the ghosts tumbled out of the house but the boy grabbed his sister's arm but she had to slip away. one hunter caught sight of her vanishing feet and asked about it. at this point the boy could feel his strength returning and he told the hunters that the house had been filled with people and they promised his strength would return. but as he said this, he could feel it fading and he crumbled to the ground. the villagers tormented him and then left him. as he lay on the ground, the ghosts of his parents walked in and they invited him to the land of ghosts.

        - he regains full strength as a ghost, story of his family? him returning to the village? land of the ghosts? 

Photo of Chugach Mountains, Alaska. Source: WikiMedia Commons