In some versions of Sedna's myth, before her transformation, she had children by a dog husband. These offspring became the Adlet, fearsome creatures with dog bodies and human torsos who were sent away across the sea.
Anguta and Isarrataitsoq are Sedna's parents in Baffin Island Inuit tradition. Isarrataitsoq died before Anguta's fateful kayak voyage, leaving Sedna without a mother's protection.
The Fulmar Spirit deceived Sedna into marriage by appearing as a handsome man. When she discovered his true bird nature in his windswept nest, her suffering led her father Anguta to attempt a rescue that ended in her transformation into the sea goddess.
Anguta effectively killed Sedna by throwing her overboard and severing her fingers as she clung to his kayak. Though she survived as ruler of the sea depths, her mortal life ended by her father's hand.
Anguta and Sedna jointly rule Adlivun, the Inuit underworld. Anguta ferries the souls of the dead there in his kayak, while Sedna judges them from her undersea house, determining their fate based on whether the living observed proper taboos.
Sedna sent a supernatural tide to drown Anguta as he slept, dragging him to her undersea realm. There she assigned him the role of soul-guide, making her father a servant in the domain she rules.
Qalupalik lurks beneath the sea ice in Sedna's domain, snatching children who wander too close to cracks in the frozen surface. This fearsome creature dwells in the waters the sea goddess controls.
In Inuit cosmology, Amarok enforces proper conduct on land by hunting reckless hunters, while Sedna withholds sea mammals from those who break taboos.
Anningan the moon god controls the ocean tides that wash over Sedna's undersea realm. The moon's phases affect the rhythms of sea animal behavior, connecting Anningan's celestial movements to Sedna's marine domain.
The Ijiraq operate on land while Sedna rules the sea, representing different domains of spiritual danger. Travelers lost by the Ijiraq on the tundra may wander to the coast where Sedna's domain begins.
Every seal, walrus, and whale that Sedna releases to hunters possesses an inua — the vital spirit dwelling within all living things. Proper respect for these animal souls is required to maintain Sedna's favor.
Kadlu creates thunder by rubbing dried sealskins together in the sky. The seals whose skins she uses are creatures born from Sedna's severed fingers, connecting the thunder goddess's power to the sea goddess's domain.
Kiviuq, the immortal wandering hero, travels the Arctic seas in his kayak, venturing into waters under Sedna's dominion. His legendary voyages take him through realms where her sea creatures dwell.
Malina carries light across the sky while Sedna dwells in perpetual darkness beneath the sea. The sun goddess illuminates the world above where hunters pursue the seals that Sedna releases from the deep.
Nanook controls polar bears as Sedna controls sea mammals. Both are animal masters whose favor hunters must earn through proper rituals and respect, and whose displeasure brings starvation to communities.
Pinga guides virtuous souls to the sky realm after death, while Sedna receives souls in her undersea house. Together they govern the two principal afterlife destinations in Inuit cosmology.
Qudlivun and Sedna's undersea realm represent alternative afterlife destinations. Those who die bravely or violently may ascend directly to Qudlivun, while others descend to Sedna's domain below the sea.
Sila, the spirit of air and cosmic breath, and Sedna, mistress of the sea, represent the two great realms of Inuit cosmology. Sila governs the sky and weather above while Sedna controls the waters below.
Torngarsuk rules the helping spirits that guide shamans on their spirit journeys. When angakkuq travel to Sedna's undersea realm to comb her tangled hair and learn what taboos have been broken, they rely on spirits under Torngarsuk's authority.
Tulugaak the raven brought light to the world by stealing the sun. Sedna dwells in the dark depths where that light never reaches, ruling the lightless undersea realm that contrasts with the raven's gift of illumination.
Tupilait are often sent across the sea to reach distant enemies, traveling through waters under Sedna's dominion. A tupilak powerful enough to cross the ocean demonstrates its creator's formidable shamanic ability.
Shamans use their tuurngait to journey beneath the sea to Sedna's house. The helping spirits protect and guide the angakkuq on this dangerous voyage to comb Sedna's tangled hair and release the sea mammals.
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