Tupilaks: East Greenland Spirit Culture

A brief summary of Sheila Romalis’ presentation

In traditional East Greenlandic culture, the world was populated by both human and spirit beings.  Many of these beings had names, associated myths, and particular attributes, which were widely known among the people.  Sometimes helpful and sometimes malicious, these spirit beings were understood to be living and present everywhere in their cultural world.

A traditional Tupilak was a completely different sort of spirit being.  Created by a shaman, it was brought to life for the sole purpose of killing a designated victim – although the death of the victim brought about the death of the Tupilak as well.  Malevolent and extremely dangerous, it was widely understood that to see a Tupilak meant that you would die.  Even the shaman creator was not safe as a Tupilak would occasionally turn on its own maker.

As the residents of East Greenland gradually became acculturated to outside ways, carvers began creating images of spirit beings.  Although representing the attributes of the traditional spirit beings, these small carvings became known as Tupilak figures.  Sold almost exclusively to out-of-culture buyers, these figures have evolved into an iconic art form that links both the traditional and acculturated society of East Greenland.