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B227 – “The Story of Sedna’s Father” (2023)

CAD$ 7,700 (+GST/HST if applicable, packing, insurance, shipping)

Artist: Manasie Akpaliapik (1955 – cont.) of Ikpiarjuk, Nunavut and Ontario

Signature: Signed in Inuktitut syllabics to lower side of head

Medium: Weathered whalebone, Walrus ivory

Dimensions: H: 14.0” x W: 25.5” x D: 12.0

Condition: Excellent

THE STORY OF SEDNA’S FATHER

Once upon a time a long time ago…. there was a girl and her father (the mother had died mysteriously died.)

The daughter was very pretty. She grew to an age where her father realized that she would want to get married and then she would be taken away. He didn’t like the idea of this and it bothered him a great deal. Every time a young lad would ask for her hand in marriage, he would always find a fault with him and refuse her to be taken away.

One day a handsome young man appeared wearing magnificent clothing and carrying a carved harpoon. He promised her a qulliq and to provide her with enough oil to burn to stay warm and told her she would always have shelter and plenty of food to eat. She finally agreed to marry the young man. Her father was relieved that his daughter would be well taken care of and he wouldn’t have to worry about her, so he consented to the marriage. The young man took Sedna to an island nearby.

As time went by the father decided to go check on his daughter and set off on the short journey to the island. When he arrived he found his daughter in very poor condition. Her domain was full of holes and there were only fish bones scattered around the floor and no food or oil for the qulliq. Her husband was not a human at all but a fulmar (a type of bird). He had shapeshifted into a human in order to trick them so he could have her all to himself and she would be isolated on the island and not able to leave. Every day the husband would change back into a fulmar and go fishing.

When the father arrived, he saw that his daughter was very sad so he decided to take her away. When they were leaving the island the fulmar came back and saw what was happening. He got very angry and cast a spell to call up a great storm. The waves were huge. Every time the fulmar flew close to the boat, the storm would intensify. The father decided to just save himself, so he threw his daughter overboard, but she grabbed the side of the little boat and wouldn’t let go. The father, desperate to get away, took an axe and cut Sedna’s fingers off and she fell back into the water. When her fingers hit the water they turned into sea mammals … that is how Sedna came to have authority over the sea animals and she was given domain at the bottom of the sea. This is when she became Taliilajuq. She became bitter and angry from all that had happened to her and would use her power to keep the sea animals all to herself, only allowing a few to be released when she was happy. The people were afraid to mention her name because they feared she wouldn’t release the animals for them to eat. Some people would call her Nujaqtuq or takanaluk. She was known as the sea goddess with no good intent.

Her father was turned into a guard dog (for his acts of cruelty towards his daughter) and banished to the bottom of the sea to guard her as a guard dog forever.

In this particular piece we have Taliilajuq’s face with her helpers carved on the side of her face. Then there is a scene where she was clinging to the side of the little boat and her father hacking her fingers off to save himself.

The face on the opposite side is her father’s face and two beings carved on either side of his face symbolize good and evil intentions.

This ancient story taught Inuit that ultimately it is they who get to decide their future, it is their decisions that will shape the outcome of their lives.

So the teaching is that you are the one in control of your own destiny.

END