Notes

Sometimes life is hard. People need to believe that they can do something to make sure that everything turns out well. The Inuit believe that spirits are in everything. They are in all objects. They are in all living things. Spirits are in people, animals, the snow, the sea, and storms. The Inuit believe that spirits control the great forces of nature. Spirits bring the herds of animals to hunt or keep them away. Spirits bring storms or good weather. The Inuit believe that spirits can be called on to help them in times of trouble. The Inuit also try to follow the rules of their people. If not, the spirits can bring troubles to them.The Inuit believe that spirits can affect everything they do. Spirits are responsible for a good hunt or a bad one. Spirits can be called on to help find a lost person. They can be called on to heal a sick one. The Inuit do not pray to their spirits. They believe that their behavior influences the spirits to be kind or cruel. The Inuit believe that behaving badly can cause the spirits to become angry. This behavior can bring bad luck. The Inuit have a set of rules. They believe these behaviors will keep the spirits happy. These rules and behaviors are called taboos.The Inuit try not to break any taboos. This will keep the spirits happy. For example, they believe it is important to treat animals with respect. They believe that all animals have spirits or souls. The spirit can return to life again when the body dies. The Inuit offer gifts of food and water to their spirits when animals are killed in a hunt. The Inuit show this kindness in hopes of something in return. The Inuit hope that the animal will return. The animal will hopefully allow itself to be killed for food again.
To break a taboo might bring sickness. It may bring poor hunting or bad weather.
The Spirit of the People
The Inuit believe that animals have souls. They believe that people do too. The spirit divides into two parts when a person dies. One part of the soul goes to a warm place. There, hunting is easy and life is good. The Inuit call the other part of the spirit “the soul of the name.” This remains on Earth until a baby is born. It is an honor to give the dead person’s name to a new baby. The Inuit believe that the child will also get that person’s skills and personality.