The Inuit’s view of life

Belief in spirits and myths has permeated the Inuit mindset and has helped sustain life and social order.

This was the answer to the question of life and its many mysteries given by an old man from East Greenland who lived many years ago. An outlook on life that is characteristic of a society and a people who on the one hand had a strong belief in fate and its darker sides and on the other were quick to laugh and found it easy to strike up good friendships.

The Inuit societies had no class structure and there were limited property rights. Everything except personal hunting gear and clothes were regarded as shared property.

"The Inuit societies had no class structure."

RESPECT FOR SOULS AND THE DEAD

The many commandments and prohibitions that governed life in the settlements were often startling and surprising. There was an unquestioning belief in myths and legends, with their powerful and gruesome creatures, which were regarded as absolutely true and indeed necessary for the maintenance of life and community at the settlement.

Souls could live in people, objects and animals. The body was regarded as a temporary home, and the name given to a newborn child was not unimportant, as it was regarded as the soul name of one of the dead.

This respect for deceased ancestors still exists today, as demonstrated by the fact that many Greenlanders are given names that belonged to deceased members of the family.

By Visit Greenland

Behind Greenland's largest travel site is the Visit Greenland that is 100% owned by the Government of Greenland, who is responsible for marketing the country's adventures and opportunities for guests wishing to visit the world's largest island

https://visitgreenland.com