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On the power of storytelling.
Feb. 19th, 2002 02:47 pmKatauq's spirit traveled to a great meeting of bowhead whales. They gave him a parka to wear, and when he put it on, he was as one of them. Traveling with the whales as a whale, he learned their habits and their ways.
As spring came on, the whales informed him that they would be traveling along the coast. When they came to Point Hope, they would be met by whalers. He would notice that some of their umiaks [whaling boats] would be nice and light in appearance, and some dark, and dirty. If he wished to be caught by a whaler, then he should surface by one of the clean and light boats. These belonged to good people, respectful people. They shared their catch with the children who had no parents, with widows, and with the Elders. They were kind people, with good hearts. Their ice cellars were clean: good places for a whale to have its parka of meat and muktuk stored. The dark, dirty boats belonged to people who did not share their catch, and who were lazy. No whale wanted to give itself to these boats.
If Katauq were to go to the village as a whale, and give himself to the whalers, his spirit could not return to his human body. It could put on another whale parka, but it could never go back to the human. He could, however, fly back to Point Hope as an eider duck. Then his spirit could return to his body.
That's what he did: flew back as an eider duck. He told the people of his time with the whales, and let them know how the whales felt and how they respected respectful people.
As spring came on, the whales informed him that they would be traveling along the coast. When they came to Point Hope, they would be met by whalers. He would notice that some of their umiaks [whaling boats] would be nice and light in appearance, and some dark, and dirty. If he wished to be caught by a whaler, then he should surface by one of the clean and light boats. These belonged to good people, respectful people. They shared their catch with the children who had no parents, with widows, and with the Elders. They were kind people, with good hearts. Their ice cellars were clean: good places for a whale to have its parka of meat and muktuk stored. The dark, dirty boats belonged to people who did not share their catch, and who were lazy. No whale wanted to give itself to these boats.
If Katauq were to go to the village as a whale, and give himself to the whalers, his spirit could not return to his human body. It could put on another whale parka, but it could never go back to the human. He could, however, fly back to Point Hope as an eider duck. Then his spirit could return to his body.
That's what he did: flew back as an eider duck. He told the people of his time with the whales, and let them know how the whales felt and how they respected respectful people.
