A young girl discovers her mysterious nightly visitor is her brother by smearing soot and oil on herself. Horrified by the revelation, she cuts off her breasts, offering them to him in disgust. Enraged, her brother chases her until they ascend to the sky, transforming into the sun and moon. Their eternal pursuit explains eclipses, symbolizing their tragic connection.
Source:
The Labrador Eskimo
by E.W. Hawkes
[Canada, Department of Mines]
Geological Survey, Memoir 91
Anthropological Series no. 14
Ottawa, 1916
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The siblings’ metamorphosis into celestial bodies.
Forbidden Love: The taboo relationship between the brother and sister.
Cosmic Order and Chaos: Their transformation brings order to the cosmos, explaining natural phenomena like eclipses.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Inuit peoples
At one time when all the rest of the people were in the singing-house (qa’g-i) a young girl was visited nightly by a man whose identity she could not discover. So she smeared some soot and oil on her breast to discover him. The next day, when she went to the qaggi to take her brother’s meal, she was horrified to see that he had a black streak on his face. She immediately took a knife and cut off her breasts, and placed them on the dish, saying, “Since you desire me, eat them.” Her brother was so angry that he chased her out of the kagi, and around and around the house. Finally, she ran up into the sky and he ran after her. They were changed into the sun and moon. The sun is constantly following the moon, but sometimes they meet (eclipse).
► Continue reading…
Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page
Dreamtime Whispers 