The girl who lived among the Adlit

Source: 
The Labrador Eskimo 
by E.W. Hawkes 
[Canada, Department of Mines] 
Geological Survey, Memoir 91 
Anthropological Series no. 14 
Ottawa, 1916

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► Themes of the story

Forbidden Love: The woman forms a romantic relationship with an Adlit, a being from a different realm or group, which can be seen as defying societal norms or expectations.

Community and Isolation: The woman’s departure from her human community to live with the Adlit highlights themes of belonging and estrangement.

Supernatural Beings: The Adlit are supernatural entities in Inuit folklore, and the woman’s interactions with them are central to the narrative.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Arctic Region
    • Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

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Once an Eskimo scolded his wife for not taking proper care of his boot-soles. She went out along the shore and cried. While she was there, two Adlit came up and asked her what was the matter. She told them, and they offered to take her to their home. She went with them, and married one of the Adlit. Later this Adlit met her former husband when out hunting. He told him who he was but would not take him to his former wife. Once the people were travelling and came across a camp of Adlit. They could not understand each other, until someone cried, “Call the Eskimo woman.” Then a woman came out and acted as interpreter. It was the girl who had run away. She would not go back to her husband, so they left her. She lived with the Adlit until she died.