The origin of the sea-pigeons

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

Transformation: The children undergo a physical change, turning into sea-pigeons as a consequence of their actions and the villager’s curse.

Divine Punishment: The children’s transformation serves as retribution for their inadvertent disruption of the seal hunt, highlighting the theme of supernatural retribution.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts a cautionary message about the consequences of thoughtless actions and words, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness within the community.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Arctic Region
    • Inuit/Eskimo Lore

Learn more about Inuit peoples

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Once upon a time there were some children playing on the top of a high cliff overlooking the sea. Below them the sea was covered with ice, but while they were playing, the ice opened, and the crack between the ice and the shore was filled with seals. Then the men of the village ran to get their kayaks to kill the seals. The children paid no attention to the seals, but kept on playing, shouting at the top of their voices. When the men arrived at the crack in the ice, the seals were gone. They had been frightened away by the children’s voices. The men were very angry at the children, and one of them said, “I wish the cliff would fall over and bury those noisy children.” He had no sooner spoken than the cliff toppled over and buried the children in the boulders at its foot. But they were changed into seapigeons. They dwell at the foot of the cliffs to this day.