Ijiraq facts for kids

In the Inuit religion, an ijiraq (pronounced EE-yi-rahk or EE-ji-rahk) is a shapeshifting creature. People say it kidnaps children, hides them, and then leaves them alone. Stone markers called inuksugaq (or inukshuk) can help these children find their way home. This happens if they can convince the ijiraq to let them go.

What is an Ijiraq?

In some North Baffin dialects, ijiraq means "Shape Shifter." Unlike other creatures that might look like half-human, half-caribou monsters, an ijiraq can change into any form it wants. This makes it very tricky and hard to spot.

How to spot an Ijiraq

No matter what shape an ijiraq takes, its eyes always stay red. Its true form looks like a human, but its eyes and mouth are sideways. Some stories say only a shaman knows their real form.

If you are hunting where Ijirait (the plural of ijiraq) live, you might see them. They appear for just a moment out of the corner of your eye. They are like shadow people. If you try to look directly at them, they disappear completely. Sometimes they are helpful, but other times they can be very dangerous.

Where Ijirait Live

People say Ijirait live in a place between two worlds. It's not quite in our world, and not quite out of it.

Stories about their home

Some Inuit people used to believe that some Inuit went too far north while hunting. They became trapped between the world of the dead and the world of the living. This is how they became the Ijirait.

Some elders in the South Baffin Region believed that Inuit living in Resolute and Grise Fiord were these shape-shifters. This was because they had traveled too far north. Because of this, some elders would avoid being near Inuit from the far north. They feared they might be evil Ijirait or shadow people.

It is said that the home of the Ijirait is cursed. No matter how skilled or familiar someone is with the land, they will get lost there.

Scientific Ideas About Ijirait Sightings

Scientists have looked for reasons behind stories of Ijirait. One idea is that these strange sightings might be linked to natural gas.

The sour gas theory

There are large amounts of sour gas underground in some areas. This gas can be released if people walk over pockets of it. When released, it becomes a toxic gas called hydrogen sulphide.

Breathing in hydrogen sulphide can cause people to see things that are not real. It can also make them forget things. People have reported gas and sulfur smoke in these areas. Hot water springs have also been found there. All these things could create a "mirage." This might make travelers think they see Ijirait or shadow people. The gas or areas with low oxygen could also make people feel like they are being watched.