"The whistling crackling noise which sometimes accompanies the aurora
is the voices of these spirits trying to communicate with the people of
the Earth. They should always be answered in a whispering voice."
~ Ernest W. Hawkes, The Labrador Eskimo, 1916
Ancient legends
Every Northern culture has oral legends about the aurora, passed down
for generations. The Eskimos, Athabaskan Indians, Lapps, Greenlanders,
and Northwest Indian tribes were familiar with this mysterious light in
the sky.
True heavens
Ancient Eskimo stories are often associated with
notions of life after death. Some thought that the aurora was a narrow
torch lit pathway for departed souls going to heaven. Others thought spirits
happily playing soccer with a walrus skull caused the aurora.
Powerful spirit
To some cultures, the aurora was almost a living
entity. Waving white handkerchiefs, whistling, or spitting at it would
make it change shape. The elders of Barrow, Alaska recall wielding knives
to fend off the aurora in case it tried to carry them away. To the Iglulik
Eskimo, arsharneq or arshät was a powerful spirit who assisted shamans.
Every northern culture
has legends about the aurora
click to see larger image
The aurora seems almost
a living entity
click to see larger image
Geophysical Institute
903 Koyukuk Drive, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7320
site last modified: August 2003 maintained by Asahi Aurora
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