ANIMALS Meet Amaroq, a mythical figure among most Arctic peoples.
Among the Inuit, the wolf occupies an important place. — Serova Aleksandra/Shutterstock
Amaroq is an important figure in Inuit culture. Among most peoples of the Arctic, this name designates the wolf in its concrete and spiritual form, the two going hand in hand. But among the Inuit of West Greenland, the term Amaroq refers exclusively to a legendary, huge wolf, which hunts alone at night, unlike ordinary wolves who hunt in packs.
The importance of the wolf
The Inuit generally respect wolves for their ability to hunt. hunting, including their stamina and speed. If parents want their son to become a good caribou hunter, they place on his ankle or his first shoes a bracelet made from the muscle fibers of a wolf’s paw. According to their beliefs, this gives child the speed, strength and endurance of a wolf, ensuring good hunts.
Wolves are always associated with caribou, because they follow the migrations of these herbivores in the tundra. According to an Inuit legend, wolves were even created to keep caribou healthy. The tale telling the story of Arnakpaktuq, a great shaman, describes him as a man who was born in the form of a wolf and learned how to hunt with these wild predators.
Who is Amaroq?
The great supernatural Amaroq, as for he also appears in many stories. One tale relates in particular the story of a young boy suffering from his short stature who seeks to become stronger. When he calls on the spirits to help him, an Amaroq appears and pins him to the ground with its tail. The young boy loses several bones that fall from his body. Amaroq explains to him that these bones were preventing him from growing. He tells her to come back every day in order to build up her strength. After struggling several days with Amaroq, the young boy manages to come to after three large bears, earning him the respect of his village.
Amaroq can help men but also punish them if they break a taboo. This is illustrated by another story, that of a grieving man. This man hears that an Amaroq is near his village. So he goes looking for it with a member of his family, but only finds the wolf’s cubs. He kills them, which worries his sidekick; the two go to hide in a cave. They see Amaroq returning to his den and looking for his young, but fails to find him. find them. He goes to speeding to the nearby lake and a human form emerges; to At that moment, the grieving man collapses. L’Amaroq, “the one with who nothing can be hidden”, had stolen the soul of his body.
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