Iñupiat of the Sii
Historical Ethnography and Arctic Challenges
Accessibility Tools
Qayaq the Magical Man
Eskimo elders consider Qayaq to be the oldest of legends in Inupiaq folklore. The son of shamanic parents, Qayaq was born to the task of discovering his brothers' killer and avenging their deaths. He travels widely on this quest and, imbued with magical powers, he takes animal form while battling the many destructive characters that populate his world.