Nerrivik facts for kids
Nerrivik (also spelled Nerivik) is a very important goddess in Inuit religion. She is known as the sea-mother and is believed to provide food for the Inuit people. She is especially important to fishermen and hunters. In Canada, she is often called Sedna or Arnapkapfaaluk. In Greenland, she is known as Arnakuagsak.
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Who is Nerrivik?
Nerrivik is a powerful spirit who lives at the bottom of the sea. She is seen as the mother of all sea animals, like seals, whales, and fish. Because of this, she controls the food supply for the Inuit, who traditionally rely on hunting these animals. Hunters and fishermen often pray to Nerrivik to ask for good catches and safe journeys on the water.
Different Names for the Sea Goddess
The Inuit people live across a vast area, from Canada to Greenland. Because of this, the same important figures can have different names in different regions.
Even with different names, her role as the powerful sea goddess who provides food remains the same.
The Myth of Nerrivik
There are many stories about how Nerrivik came to be the one-handed goddess of the sea. One well-known myth comes from the Inughuit (Polar Eskimos) of Smith Sound in northern Greenland.
How Nerrivik Became the Sea Goddess
In this story, Nerrivik married the storm-god. One day, while her husband was away hunting, her family decided to secretly take her back to their homeland by boat. As they were traveling, her husband, the storm-god, created a terrible storm at sea. The waves became huge and threatened to sink their boat.
To calm the storm, Nerrivik's family felt they had to make a difficult choice. They threw her overboard. But Nerrivik held onto the boat tightly. To make her let go, her grandfather cut off her hand. Because of this, Nerrivik now lives at the bottom of the sea, with only one hand. From there, she controls the creatures of the ocean and provides food for the people. This myth explains why she is so powerful and why she is connected to the sea and its animals.
