"In the time when there was no difference between humans and animals, their speech was nearly the same. It is called How Inuit Learned the Proper Taboos for when A Bear is Killed. The following is a traditional Inuit legend that describes how and why taboos were created. There is a great deal of respect towards the bear as it is a great hunter, but as seen in the image there is also a great fear of such a powerful animal. I selected this image because it embodies the connection between humans and a predatory animal such as bears. The great shaman went home and created a parka with the hand prints to show where the spirt had placed his hands on him. After declaring his innocence, the spirits departed "in friendship and mutual understanding". The oldest spirit fell upon the shaman as he suspected him of being the murder. One of the spirits was searching for his son, whom the group feared had been killed by humans. One account of the parka's origin was recorded and it retells the story of a great Iglulik shaman that encountered four mountain spirits. This particular parka has a supernatural source. There were certain situations that called upon a shaman to be a intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds. Traditionally, each individual in Inuit culture was responsible with maintaining a good relationship with the spirits and observing taboos. Stories of encounters with spiritual beings were created on parkas to remember and respect the forces that reveled themselves to humans. This parka differs from the previous parka as it belonged to a Shaman. This creates a zoomorphic reference that aided the hunter on a functional and symbolic level in the pursuit of his prey. Taking a closer look at the details of this piece, it is seen that the hood has caribou ears attached to it and if it follows traditions it will also have a stylized predatory tail on the back panel. This not only helped to camouflage the hunter, but assisted him in identifying with the animal. Caribou furs would be worn to catch caribou, while sealskins would be worn to catch seals. The type of parkas worn also had to respect this division between land and sea. As mention before weapons had to be separated for the use on land and on sea to appease the spirits that offered animals to the hunters. The man's parka as seen here, served as a metaphoric reference to the animals and symbolically assisted him as a hunter. The design element of the parka played a role in distinguishing between the maternity of women and men that were hunters. This exhibition depicts interactions between human and spiritual beings as well as representations that show the respect and connection forged between humans and animals for mutual survival.Īn essential element of Inuit culture is the parka. It is consistently dipping into two worlds, that of human and spiritual. The land is an old friend for the Inuit people and it lays on a sensitive balance beam made out of respect and spiritual observance. It was believed that animals gave themselves to the hunters, and failure to follow strict taboos would result in a shortage of animals, as the soul of the offended would inform others and they would refuse to be caught. In order to receive these animals and hunt them, humans would have to be careful and respect the animals Inua- Its life essence. So intimate is the relationship between human and animal that Inuit mythology told of a time when human could become an animal and an animal could become a human. Animals not only provided food through their flesh, but they provided fur for parkas, sinew as thread, water-resistant boots from seal skin and antlers, bones to create hunting weapons. The Inuit worldview is strongly influenced by the relationship between humans and animals. Inuits did not solely rely on life skills such as hunting for survival, but they observed certain taboos, which aided them to live in the right relationship with their environment, especially with animals and spirit beings. Simionie Kunner Survival from the harsh environment and attaining food were primary concerns of the all Inuit peoples living in the harsh northern lands. I am Inuk and I know that my heart is free to go where all animals are free". I am an Inuk who was given a place in the tundra so I could remember the cold winter darkness and the bright spring day. "I am an Inuk one whose ancestors sheltered in the winter igloo of the great arctic One whose future is free like the wild animal of the artic spirit.
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