Sedna: Goddess of the Sea as told by Deantha Edmunds in Tors Cove, NL

Perchance Theatre

11 Jan 202206:39

Summary

TLDRIn ancient times, Sedna, a young Inuit girl, enjoyed a comfortable life with her father until she was tricked by a stranger who turned out to be a raven. Abandoned on a desolate island, Sedna suffered until her father found her. In a storm, he cut off her fingers, which transformed into sea creatures, granting her control over them. As the goddess of the sea, Sedna's hair entangles the creatures, and the Inuit must appease her to ensure a successful hunt. This myth reflects the Inuit's respect for nature and their belief in the interconnectedness of life.

Takeaways

🌊 Sedna was a young Inuk girl who lived thousands of years ago when the sea was free of creatures.
🏡 She enjoyed a comfortable life with her father, a skilled hunter, and had everything she needed.
🚫 Sedna refused to marry and leave her father's home, rejecting all the suitors her father suggested.
🕊️ A stranger appeared, enticing Sedna with tales of a beautiful home and a life of luxury.
💔 Sedna's father was wary of the stranger but Sedna decided to follow him to start a new life.
🗿 The stranger turned out to be a raven who deceived Sedna, leading her to a harsh and lonely existence on a rocky island.
🌪️ When Sedna's father found her, the raven caused a storm in his anger, leading to a desperate escape attempt.
✋ In a tragic turn, Sedna's father cut off her fingers to save himself from drowning, and she sank into the ocean.
🐋 Sedna's fingers transformed into sea creatures, and she became the ruler of the underworld with the tail of a fish.
🔮 A shaman dove down to appease Sedna, and she released the sea creatures for the people to hunt, establishing a tradition of offering thanks.

Q & A

Who is Sedna in the story?
-Sedna is a young Inuk girl who was very happy and lived a comfortable life with her father, the best hunter in the community.
Why did Sedna refuse to get married?
-Sedna refused to get married because she did not want to leave the comfort of her home and the love and security her father provided.
What was the stranger's true identity in the story?
-The stranger was actually a raven in disguise, who tricked Sedna into leaving her home with him.
What did the raven promise Sedna to convince her to leave with him?
-The raven promised Sedna a life of luxury, with a beautiful home nearby, warm furs, and an abundance of meat.
How did Sedna's life change after following the raven?
-Sedna's life became miserable as she was left on a rocky island, exposed to the cold and wind, with only raw fish to eat, and no proper shelter.
Why did Sedna's father set out to find her?
-Sedna's father was worried about her well-being and set out to find her when he realized she was in distress.
What happened when Sedna's father tried to take her back home?
-When Sedna's father tried to take her back home, the raven caused a storm, and in an attempt to save himself, Sedna's father pushed her into the water and cut off her fingers to make her let go of the kayak.
How did Sedna become the ruler of the sea creatures?
-After Sedna's fingers were cut off, they transformed into sea creatures such as seals, narwhals, walruses, and whales, giving her dominion over them and making her the ruler of the underworld.
Why did the people on land starve, and what did they do about it?
-The people on land starved because Sedna, in her anger, withheld the sea creatures from them. A shaman from the community dove down to find Sedna, sang to her, and combed her hair, which appeased her and released the sea creatures for the people to hunt.
What is the significance of the offering made by the Inuit people after the story?
-The Inuit people make an offering of their catch to Sedna to thank her for releasing the sea creatures for them to hunt. This practice ensures that they share their bounty and do not waste anything, as neglecting this could lead to Sedna withholding the creatures from the hunt again.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Sedna's Tragic Transformation

The story begins with Sedna, a young Inuit girl living a comfortable life with her skilled hunter father. Despite many proposals from capable men, Sedna refuses to marry, wanting to stay with her father. A stranger arrives, enticing Sedna with tales of luxury and a beautiful home. Despite her father's warnings, she follows the stranger to a rocky island, only to discover he is a raven who has deceived her. Sedna endures a harsh life, longing for her father's rescue. Her father eventually finds her, but in a desperate escape from the raven's wrath, he pushes Sedna into the sea. In a tragic attempt to save himself from drowning, he cuts off her fingers, which transform into sea creatures, making Sedna the ruler of the sea's creatures with the body of a fish and the upper body of a woman.

05:02

🐋 The Shaman's Quest and Sedna's Role

As Sedna's father's people face starvation due to the lack of sea creatures, a shaman from the community dives to find Sedna. He explains the plight of the people and, through his gentle combing of her hair and soothing songs, manages to appease Sedna. In response, she releases the sea creatures for the people to hunt. This act establishes a tradition where the Inuit make offerings to Sedna after each catch, ensuring nothing is wasted. If these offerings are neglected, Sedna withholds the sea creatures, prompting a shaman to dive deep to reconcile with her. The narrative concludes by addressing Sedna as the goddess of the sea, emphasizing her significance in Inuit culture and the balance she maintains between the people and the sea's resources.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Inuk

The term 'Inuk' refers to the indigenous people of the Arctic regions, specifically in Canada. In the context of the video, the young girl Sedna is an Inuk, highlighting the cultural setting of the story. The narrative is deeply rooted in Inuit mythology, which often involves the relationship between humans and the harsh Arctic environment.

💡Seal

A seal is a marine mammal that is significant to the Inuit people for its role in their subsistence lifestyle. In the script, Sedna's fingers transform into seals, which become a vital resource for the Inuit people to hunt for food and materials. This transformation symbolizes the connection between Sedna and the sustenance of her people.

💡Raven

The raven is a figure in many indigenous mythologies, often portrayed as a trickster. In the video, the raven deceives Sedna, leading to her transformation and the establishment of her rule over the sea creatures. The raven's actions drive the narrative and illustrate the theme of the consequences of deception and the struggle for survival.

💡Shaman

A shaman is a spiritual leader or healer in indigenous cultures, believed to have the power to communicate with the spirit world. In the script, a shaman dives to the underwater realm to negotiate with Sedna, exemplifying the role of shamans as intermediaries between the physical and spiritual realms. The shaman's actions are crucial in restoring the balance between humans and the sea's creatures.

💡Underworld

The underworld, in many mythologies, is an afterlife realm or a place of spiritual significance. Sedna becomes the ruler of the underworld in the video, signifying her transformation from a mortal to a powerful spirit. The underworld represents the depths of the sea and Sedna's domain over the marine life, which is essential for the survival of the Inuit people.

💡Narwhal

The narwhal is a medium-sized toothed whale characterized by a long, spiral tusk. In the script, Sedna's fingers also transform into narwhals, emphasizing the diversity of marine life under her control. The inclusion of the narwhal underscores the richness of the Arctic ecosystem and its importance to the Inuit way of life.

💡Whale

Whales are large marine mammals that hold cultural and nutritional significance for the Inuit. In the narrative, whales are among the creatures born from Sedna's fingers, indicating their importance in the Inuit diet and their symbolic role in the story. Whales represent the bounty of the sea and the connection between Sedna's power and the Inuit's sustenance.

💡Kayak

A kayak is a small, narrow watercraft traditionally used by the Inuit and other Arctic peoples for hunting and transportation. In the video, Sedna's father uses a kayak to search for her, which is a common mode of travel in the Arctic. The kayak symbolizes the Inuit's adaptation to their environment and their reliance on traditional tools for survival.

💡Offering

An offering is a gift or act of presenting something to a deity or spirit as a sign of respect or to seek favor. In the script, the Inuit make offerings of their catch to Sedna to show gratitude. This practice reflects the Inuit belief in reciprocity with nature and the spiritual world, emphasizing the importance of maintaining harmony with the sea and its creatures.

💡Goddess of the Sea

Sedna is referred to as the 'Goddess of the Sea' in the script, highlighting her role as a powerful figure controlling the marine life. This title signifies her transformation from a mortal woman to a deity with the responsibility of managing the sea's resources. As the Goddess of the Sea, Sedna's actions directly affect the lives of the Inuit people, illustrating the theme of the interdependence between humans and the natural world.

Highlights

Ancient tale of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea, begins with a time when the sea was free of creatures.

Introduction of Sedna, a happy young Inuit girl with a loving father who is a skilled hunter.

Sedna's refusal to marry and leave the comfort of her father's care.

The arrival of a stranger who seduces Sedna with tales of a luxurious life.

Sedna's decision to follow the stranger, against her father's advice, to start a new life.

The stranger's true identity as a raven is revealed, and Sedna is left to live in harsh conditions.

Sedna's father's search for her and the discovery of her miserable living situation.

The dramatic escape attempt of Sedna and her father, thwarted by the raven's storm.

The tragic event where Sedna's fingers are cut off, leading to the creation of sea creatures.

Sedna's transformation into a goddess of the sea, ruling over marine life with a fish's tail.

The impact of Sedna's wild hair on the sea creatures and the suffering of the Inuit people.

A shaman's dive to appease Sedna and restore the balance of marine life for the Inuit.

The tradition of offering a portion of the catch to Sedna as a sign of gratitude.

The consequences of neglecting Sedna's offerings and the need for shamans to reestablish peace.