Cosmology and Shamanism

The fourth volume in the Interviewing Inuit Elders series examines two important aspects of Inuit culture-cosmology and shamanism-that were in large part suppressed following the introduction of Christianity. Like other volumes in the five-volume series, the book is based on interviews of elders conducted in 1998 by students in Nunavut Arctic College's Inuit Studies Program at Nunatta Campus in Iqaluit. The course, Cosmology and Shamanism, was directed by Bernard Saladin d'Anglure, who also edited the written account. Unique to this volume is that the book is based on two different sets of interviews. In addition to the elders interviewed in Iqaluit, the book draws on interviews that the editor conducted in Iglulik in 1972 among elders who had more direct personal experience with shamanism.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication /i
Acknowledgements /ii
Map /iii
Introduction: Cosmology and Shamanism /v
PART ONE: IQALUIT 1998
INTRODUCTION /1
CHAPTER 1 Shamanism and the Life Cycle: Names, Souls, and
Spirits /4
Introduction /4
About the Word Angakkuq /6
Naming, the Soul, and Shamanism /8
Substituting Personal Names from Aqausiit /17
The Soul as a Tiny Bubble /20
Women and Shamanism /22
Evil Actions /30
Coming Back to Life /36
CHAPTER 2 Angakkuuniq: The Powers of the Angakkuq /40
Introduction /40
The Acquisition of the Angakkuq's Power /42
Qaumaniq: Aura and Light /46
Sakaniq: Consulting the Tuurngait /52
Irinaliutit and Qinngarniq: Incantations and Shouted Prayer /65
Ilisiiqsiniq: Hexing /68
CHAPTER 3 Encounters with Inurajait /69
Introduction /69
Encounters with Inurajait /71
Encounters with Unusual Animals /92
Sexual Encounters with Inurajait and Inuruqsimajuit /97
CHAPTER 4 Shamanistic Performances and Rituals /103
Introduction /103
Qilaniq: Answering Questions /105
Sakaniq or Tuurnginiq: Consulting a Tuurngaq /112
Ilimmaqtuqtuq or Qangatajuq: Aerial Journeys /121
Pavunngaaqtuq: Journey to the Upper World /124
Nakkaajuq or Atqaqtuq: Journey to the Underworld /127
Nalliunniq and Pijariurniq: Celebrations /129
Tupilanniq: Killing Evil Spirits /135
PART TWO: IGLULIK 1971–1972
INTRODUCTION /143
CHAPTER 5 A Case of Healing /147
Introduction /147
The Healing of Nanuraq /153
CHAPTER 6 Examples of Shamanistic Rituals /187
Introduction /187
Qilaniq: Divination by Lifting /191
Makittarniq: Making Predictions Using Bones /197
Irinaliutit: Incantations /199
Qinngarniq: Shouted Prayer /203
Aarnguat and Niliqsiniq: Amulets and Farting /207
CHAPTER 7 Private and Public Performances of the
Angakkuit /213
Introduction /213
Private Performances /217
Sakaniq with Tunijjuti (Fees) /217
Public Performances /228
Ilimmaqturniq /228
Discoveries of Cannibalism /231
Pavunngaarniq: Journey to the Moon /238
Nakkaaniq /251
Qilaujjarniq: Drumming /256
Kapijauniq: Stabbing Ritual /257
CHAPTER 8 Cosmology, Shamanism, and Ilisiiqsiniq /263
Introduction /263
Saittuq's Song /267
Naarjuk /268
Silaat: The Children of Sila /272
Tupilanniq: Fighting an Evil Spirit /274
Angakkuuniq and Ilisiiqsiniq /281
PART THREE: STUDENT ESSAYS ON COSMOLOGY AND
SHAMANISM
Introduction /291
The Inuit Life Cycle, by Aaju Peter and Nancy Kisa /295
Tuurngait, by Julia Saimaiyuq /308
Tuurngait: An Integral Part of Shamanism, by Susan Enuaraq /314
Inuit Relationships with Tuurngait and Tarriassuit, by Johnny Kopak,
Myna Ishulutak, and Vera Arnatsiaq /323
The Spiritual Intervention of the Shaman in the Inuit World, by Kim
Kangok, Mathieu Boki, and Jeannie Shaimaiyuk /329
Inuit Cosmology, by Bernice Kootoo /342
Glossary /366
References /381 The Interviewing Inuit Elders series grew out of the Oral Traditions course, held at the Iqaluit campus of Nunavut Arctic College in 1996. The college invited Inuit elders to be interviewed, in Inuktitut, by the eight students taking the course that year. The interviews began across a table,