Magic Words: An Inuit Creation Myth

Nalungiaq, an Inuit woman, reported that she learned this creation song from an elderly uncle named Unaraluk. Unaraluk was a shaman; some kind of sorcerer or priest. This folktale passed from generation to generation, until it was first written down by Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1921, during his expedition across the Arctic. The poet Edward Field eventually made the translation to English.

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In the very earliest of times
When both people and animals lived on the earth
A person could become an animal if he wanted to
And an animal could become a human being.
Sometimes they were people
And sometimes animals
And there was no difference.
All spoke the same language.

That was a time when words were like magic.
The human mind had mysterious powers.
A word spoken by chance
Might have strange consequences.
It would suddenly become alive
And what people said wanted to happen
Could happen
All you had to do was say it

Nobody could explain this:
That’s the way it was.