Amikuk facts for kids
| Grouping | Monster |
|---|---|
| Sub grouping | Shapeshifter |
| Other name(s) | A-Mi-Kuk Amikut Qamungelriit |
| Country | United States of America |
| Region | Alaska |
The Amikuk is a mysterious creature from Yup'ik legends. The Yup'ik people live in Alaska, in the United States of America. This creature is said to live hidden within the ground.
Contents
What is the Amikuk?
The Amikuk is a legendary monster known for its amazing ability to change its shape. It can look very different depending on where you meet it. It also acts differently based on its form.
Forms and Abilities
The Amikuk can take on several forms. Each form has unique powers and ways of interacting with people.
In the Water
When the Amikuk is in the sea, it is said to have no hair. It has four strong arms and leathery skin. In this form, it might attack hunters in their kayaks. It tries to drag them under the water. Legends say it pulls them down to eat them. Even though it lives in the ground, the Amikuk can chase hunters onto land. It swims through the earth as easily as it swims through water.
In the Earth
In its natural home, deep within the earth, the Amikuk has a tricky power. It can make the ground you are walking on turn into quicksand. It does this by quickly "swimming" around you. If you are holding a walking stick, you might feel very tired while this happens. Then, the Amikuk can swim upwards, right into a person. This makes the person it now lives inside feel very weak. Sometimes, an Amikuk might even jump through a person. This can make them very sick, and can even cause them to die.
As a Human
The Amikuk can also change into a human. It might do this when it gets "tired of being amikut for a long time." When it looks like a human, it might be called a Qamungelriit. Yup'ik elders tell stories of meeting an Amikuk pulling a sled across the ice. It can only pull the sled in a straight line.
If you ever meet an Amikuk in human form, the legends say you should sit down. Turn your back to the creature and do not speak to it. The Amikuk will then offer you gifts. These gifts will become more valuable each time. The stories say you should stay silent until the Amikuk offers you everything you need. Or, it should offer everything that is on your mind.
Special Powers
The Amikuk has another strange power. If someone shoots an Amikuk, it does not die. Instead, it is said to multiply into eight separate beings!
Amikuk in Art
A traditional Yup'ik mask shows what the Amikuk might look like. This mask was made by an artist named Aarnaquq, also known as Phillip John Charette. You can see this special mask on display at the Portland Art Museum.
