The qalupalik : Alaska

The qalupalik is a terrifying creature from Inuit mythology that lurks under the ice of the Arctic Ocean, waiting to snatch unsuspecting children who wander too close to the water. In this blog post, we will explore the origins, appearance, and behavior of this mythical monster, as well as some of the stories and legends that feature it.

The word qalupalik comes from the Inuit language and means "the one who comes up from below". The qalupalik is also known as qallupilluit or qalupalik in different dialects. The creature is part of a larger group of beings called unikkakuluit, which means "those who live in the sea". These include other mythical creatures such as sedna, the goddess of the sea and marine animals, and nuliajuk, the mother of sea mammals.

The qalupalik is often described as having a human-like shape, but with some features that make it more adapted to its aquatic environment. It has green, slimy skin, long hair, and long fingernails. It also has webbed hands and feet, scales, and fins. It wears an amautik, a type of parka worn by Inuit women that has a large hood to carry children. The qalupalik uses its amautik to kidnap children and take them underwater. Some sources say that its amautik is made of eider duck feathers, while others say that it is made of seaweed.

The qalupalik is a cunning and dangerous predator that hunts along the shorelines and ice floes of the Arctic. It has a distinctive humming sound that it uses to lure children to the edge of the water. Once it grabs them, it drags them down to its underwater lair, where it either eats them or keeps them alive for later use. Some stories say that the qalupalik uses the children's souls to maintain its youth and beauty, while others say that it uses them to comb its hair or play with. The qalupalik can also change its shape into other animals, such as seals or whales, to trick or escape its enemies.

There are many stories and legends about the qalupalik among different Inuit communities. Some of them are cautionary tales that warn children to stay away from the water and listen to their elders. Others are heroic tales that tell how brave hunters or children managed to outsmart or defeat the qalupalik. For example, one story tells how a young orphan tricked a qalupalik into thinking that his toes were hungry worms that would eat it. Another story tells how a grandmother gave her grandson to a qalupalik because she could not feed him, but later a young couple rescued him from its clutches.

The qalupalik is a fascinating creature that reflects the culture and environment of the Inuit people. It is a symbol of both fear and respect for the power and mystery of the sea. It is also a reminder of the importance of protecting children from harm and teaching them survival skills. The qalupalik is one of the many unikkakuluit that enrich the Inuit mythology and folklore.