For more of my entries on Inuit myths click here: https://glitternight.com/inuit-myth/
KIVIOQ – The greatest hero and monster- slayer of Inuit mythology. The exact structure of Kivioq’s saga varies wildly from region to region, some of them with a fully defined beginning and ending, others that are left open- ended. In some versions when Kivioq grows old he “hibernates” and is youthful again when he wakes up. One version states Kivioq has left the far north and is living in New York City (?) until he is needed again by the Inuit people. Kivioq’s primary weapon is his harpoon and he is able to hurl it with such force that he can split icebergs in two with the impact.
Many sources glibly describe Kivioq as “the Inuit Odysseus” because a number of the variations of his saga depict him trying to return to his wife and son but with various menaces constantly obstructing that goal. In other versions he wanders the Inuit regions trying to find his mother, who was among the people who fled Kivioq’s home village because of a cannibal monster that was eventually slain by the great hero.
The opening episode in the Kivioq saga generally involves him and his mother getting revenge on the gang of men who killed his father by having Kivioq lure their kayaks into a storm at sea that wipes them out. Next he falls into the clutches of one or two (versions vary) cannibalistic witches, but the bones of their previous victims warn Kivioq and he escapes with his life.
The number and order of the remaining adventures vary and are at the discretion of the storyteller relating Kivioq’s tales. In general his further escapades involve: *** a) an island where he must slay two whale- sized caterpillars *** b) a battle with a giant clam that tries to devour him and his kayak *** c) an encounter with the salmon god Eqatlejoq, who carves a giant salmon for Kivioq to ride back to shore after his kayak is destroyed by the giant clam ***
d) killing a katutajuk (Inuit monsters that are literally just big heads on short, stubby legs. They devour everything in their path and they are strong enough to burst through igloo walls ). this creature had wiped out most of the people in Kivioq’s home village and caused the rest to flee to parts unknown *** e) a battle with giant spiders who have the heads of human females and who feed on the Inuit people
*** f) slaying a ten- legged polar bear by concealing himself in one of the food caches the bear was raiding (ten -legged polar bears are one of the most common monsters in Inuit myths and just about every hero in their belief system faces them at some point) *** g) a monster who strangles people with its own intestines *** and h) an encounter with a sinister, magical little boy who draws monsters on the sides of igloos, then brings those drawings to life to do his bidding
The Kivioq saga is also sprinkled through with episodes involving the hero marrying beautiful women who turn out to be various animals in human form. Some of the endings of the hero’s tale involve him at last returning to his wife and full- grown son, who tell him he’s been dead for years, causing Kivioq to realize he is just a wandering ghost. I call that version the Twilight Zone ending.
Other endings find the hero’s wife murdered by her own mother, who desires Kivioq for herself, causing Kivioq to leave in disgust, abandoning the old woman to starve. Still others involve the hibernating and “regenerating” Kivioq, who may or may not be partying in the Big Apple until he is needed again. Oogoon is possibly the 2nd best known hero in Inuit myths, with many adventures paralleling Kivioq’s, leading to the belief that the two heroes were probably interchangeable depending on the region and/or the storyteller’s preference.
© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Balladeer's Blog 
It really does seem as if all the base stories of myths are oh so very similar!!!!
Thanks for sharing this Balladeer darling!!! I do so love Inuit myths!!! They are so neat!!!
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you enjoy them. And you’re right – because of our shared humanity people all over the world independently came up with belief systems and tales with similar underpinning.
Speaking as a globe trotter… humans are more alike than most give credit too!!!
“a monster who strangles people with its own intestines” – now that’s hard core
I agree! Wait til you see some of the other monsters from Inuit myths.
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Isn’t mythology fabulous !! I mean whale sized caterpillars, devouring clams, 10 legged polar bears (wait…that sounds like LOST !!!). I love how you find these things Ed. You brighten my day considerably…
Ha! You’re great, Jo! Thanks a lot for the kind words!
Many thanks for sharing all these myths. u have more info than anybody else I seen.
Thank you for saying so!
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I want to have Kivioq’s baby!
Well, that depends – are you another one of those women who are really something else in disguise? He has a tendency to wind up in bed with those.
Great story! You have more detail on Kiviok than anybody else does!
Thanks! Glad you noticed!
I enjoy learning about other cultures myths and gods here!
Thank you! I’m very glad to hear it!
You should write a Kivioq novel!
Thanks! Who knows?
Thank you for your work on legends. A great site you have and I enjoyed reading your international work. I have spent many years collecting many components of the Kivioq legend in Nunavut from many different Elders in the communities. Some stories I recognize from your work and others are new to me. Thanks again!
Thanks very much for your comment! I’ll be hitting several other pantheons in the near future so by all means stick around.
This hero is so cool!
I agree!
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I generally agree with your opinion on this topic and look forward to new posts and comments. Thanks!
Love the myths you cover here.
Thanks!
A harpoon is a cool and unique weapon!
I agree! It should be as well-known as Thor’s hammer, Hercules’ club and Mwindo’s antelope-tail staff.
hello, i’m really interested in Kivioq’s adventure. Could you give me some of your sources because i never heard about :
– a monster who strangles people with its own intestines
– killing a katutajuk
– a battle with giant spiders who have the heads of human females and who feed on the Inuit people
– an encounter with a sinister, magical little boy who draws monsters on the sides of igloos, then brings those drawings to life to do his bidding .
I never encounter thoses episodes in the kivioq epic cycle.
Thanks a lot and nice job.
Julien
No problem! Here are many of my source books on Inuit Myths – Powers That We Do Not Know: The Gods And Spirits Of The Inuit … Inuit Mythology … The Inuit Imagination … Medicine Men of Hooper Bay … Kivioq’s Magic Journey … The Eskimo Storyteller … The Sea Woman … Eskimo Folk Tales … Amerindian Rebirth … Eskimo Folk-Lore … A Kayak Full of Ghosts … The Eskimo of Siberia … Handbook of Native American Mythology … World Mythology … Inuit Myths, Legends and Songs … Tales of Ticasuk … Northern Tales … North American Indian Mythology
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