Two Chukchi brothers, Chinto’urgin and Anqa’lqan, return from hunting to confront ten Ta’nnit warriors who murdered their people. Using superior skill and resilience, they defeat the attackers, reclaim resources, and sustain their community. When more warriors arrive, Anqa’lqan heroically fights and dies but is revived by a benevolent spirit, who commands a ceremonial tribute, sealing his victory and restoration.
Source
The Jessup North Pacific Expedition
edited by Franz Boas
Memoir of the American Museum
of Natural History – New York
Volume VIII
1. Chukchee Mythology
by Waldemar Bogoras
Leiden & New York, 1910
► Themes of the story
Hero’s Journey: Anqa’lqan embarks on a transformative adventure, facing formidable adversaries and undergoing personal trials.
Sacrifice: Anqa’lqan sacrifices his own reindeer to confront the Ta’nnit warriors, demonstrating his commitment to the cause.
Resurrection: After being mortally wounded, Anqa’lqan is revived by the benevolent spirit Kere’tkun, symbolizing a return from death.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Chukchee people
Told by Pana’nto, a Maritime Chukchee man, at Mariinsky Post, October, 1900.
There lived two brothers, Chinto’urgin and Anqa’lqan. Their houses were very poor. Some Ta’nnit warriors came, ten in number, all driving reindeer, and also all able-bodied. They murdered all the people near the lake. Chinto’urgin and Anqa’lqan were both absent, hunting reindeer. The Ta’nnit began to kill their house-mates. At that time both came back. Ten Ta’nnit warriors were standing side by side. The two on the ends were quite weak. The fifth, the middle one, was the strongest of all. The one on the left end said, “How shall we kill them?” That on the right end said, “Let it be by shooting!” The strong one said, “You are a weakling, I am able to bind them hand and foot, and then to take them alive to the Ta’nnin women.” Anqa’lqan said, “We shall see!” They fought. One warrior struck Anqa’lqan upon the breast with his spear. He hit his armor of thong-seal-hide, Anqa’lqan fell down, “Ga, ga, ga!” cried all the Ta’nnit.
► Continue reading…
“Not yet,” said Anqa’lqan, “I am still alive, My hands are not bound, nor my feet either.” Lying down, he made a thrust with his long spear. His spear-head was much stronger than that of the Ta’nnin. He pierced the Ta’nnin all through, and killed him. His companion was still more active. Even before Anqa’lqan had killed his adversary, he had killed those on the right and on the left side, and destroyed them all. They gathered the reindeer, and took all the belongings of those killed.
Then they went home, and found their house-mates half starving. [From what was told before, one would suppose that the fight was near the houses. Discrepancies of this kind are not rare in Chukchee stories.] They slaughtered reindeer and gave their friends to eat. The next year ten other Ta’nnin warriors came again. Anqa’lqan went to meet them, driving a single reindeer. Then he said, “Can I save myself with the help of this single reindeer? I will rather be wholly without reindeer!” So he stabbed the animal with his knife. The reindeer rushed forward, broke through the Ta’nnin file, then fell down. They fought, Anqa’lqan killed all the Ta’nnit, but he was also mortally wounded by them. While he was lying there, Kere’tkun [benevolent spirit] came to him and said, “I am sorry for you! I may bring you back to life!” — “Do it,” said the corpse. ‘”If you will promise to follow my orders, I will make you alive, as before.” — “I promise to do so.” — “Then listen! A Ta’nnin will pass by, driving a reindeer-team. That is the object of your thanksgiving ceremonial. Over him and his reindeer carefully celebrate it!” — “All right!” He made him alive. A Ta’nnin passed by, driving a reindeer-team. He struck him with a spear and killed him, and carried the body home. Upon this, he celebrated the thanksgiving ceremonial. His head was the object of the ceremonial, and also his two reindeer. Thus he was restored to life.
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