Arnasugaussak, after breaking her mother’s precious needle, fled inland with her daughter. They lived among groups of people who transformed into partridges and reindeer. Eventually, they returned to the coast, where they encountered men flensing a whale. As they called out to them, both were mysteriously turned into stones, leaving a lasting mark of their tale.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The narrative features people transforming into partridges and reindeer, highlighting themes of physical change.
Supernatural Beings: The story includes elements of the supernatural, such as the mysterious transformation of individuals into animals and ultimately into stones.
Conflict with Authority: Arnasugaussak’s flight after breaking her mother’s needle suggests a challenge to familial authority, leading to her subsequent adventures.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
A woman named Arnasugaussak, on being scolded by her parents for having broken her mother’s precious needle, fled with her daughter to the inland, where they lived with people, who after a while were transformed into partridges, and afterwards with others who changed into reindeers.
Finally, they returned to the sea-coast, and saw some men flensing a whale. While standing calling out to them they were converted into stones.
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