Alekakukiak, allied to enemies through marriage, learned from a kind old woman that her brothers-in-law planned to kill her. She fled inland, bravely confronting a bear and an amarok by cracking her hood string like a whip to subdue them. Eventually, she reached the sea and reunited with her relatives, demonstrating resilience and ingenuity in her escape.
Source:
Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo
by Henry Rink
[William Blackwood and Sons]
Edinburgh and London, 1875
► Themes of the story
Cunning and Deception: Alekakukiak’s resourcefulness is evident when she uses her hood string, cracking it like a whip to intimidate a bear and an amarok, allowing her to continue her escape.
Conflict with Authority: Facing a threat from her brothers-in-law, Alekakukiak challenges their authority by fleeing and surviving against the odds, ultimately seeking refuge with her own relatives.
Trials and Tribulations: Throughout her journey, Alekakukiak confronts multiple challenges, including dangerous animals and the harsh environment, demonstrating resilience and determination to overcome adversity.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Inuit peoples
Abridged version of the story.
A woman named Alekakukiak had been allied to her enemies by the bands of marriage. A poor old wife, to whom she had shown much kindness, once informed her of her brothers-in-law intending to kill her. On hearing this she fled to the inland, where she first met with a bear.
Having no sort of weapon whatever, she took a string from her hood, and cracking it like a whip in the front of the animal, she made it fall to the ground.
She proceeded in the same manner with an amarok, and at length she reached the sea on the other side, and came to her relatives.
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