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

Summary

In 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.