Giviok, mourning his wife’s death, struggles to leave his young son but eventually flees. Facing perilous sea challenges, he survives encounters with sea creatures, icebergs, and malevolent beings. After aiding kind strangers, memories of his son draw him back. Overcoming the same dangers, he returns to find his child transformed into a skilled hunter, symbolizing resilience and growth despite tragedy and separation.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The protagonist’s journey leads to personal growth and change, reflecting the theme of transformation.
Underworld Journey: The perilous sea challenges and encounters with malevolent beings symbolize a metaphorical journey into the underworld.
Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationship between Giviok and his son, highlighting the complexities of familial bonds.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
This tale is somewhat similar to Giviok, but in the present version the revenge is brought on by an angakok, who assisted the cousins on a flight, and while staying with them invoked his tornak, the toolik, who carried a red-hot weapon, and destroyed the house and all its inhabitants by fire, while the angakok flew homewards. After his return to his house, while narrating the deed to his people, a laughing voice was heard from without, recognised as that of his erkungasok (the ingenious and cunning adviser, but rather powerless and boasting dweller among the tornaks), who came to give notice of his having also assisted at the destruction of his enemies.
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Dreamtime Whispers 