Inuit Beliefs!

Hello Native Studies!

The Inuit have an extremely strong connection to nature and the animals on this planet. They believe that everything has a spirit, and that when it dies, it goes to the Spirit World. Shamans were the only people who could communicate with the spirits. Dressed in carved masks that are believed to have otherworldly properties and using pendants and dances, the Shamans were able to establish a connection with the Spirit World. This could be dangerous because the spirits would be angered if a person interrupted the ceremony or if the Shaman did not perform the ceremony correctly.

The spirits have great power over the living, and there are many guidelines that the Inuit must follow in order to keep them happy. Bad weather and illnesses were seen as the wrath of Spirits, and if respects to a hunt were not fulfilled, the spirit of the animal would come back as a demon. If respects were paid, then the spirit would return as another animal, ready to sacrifice its life once again.

There is also a highly held belief that a human is made up of 3 parts: a body, a name, and a soul. When a person dies, that name and soul are reincarnated into another human and will continue living. Many people name their new born children after elders who have passed, thus ensuring that the Spirit can continue on.

Sources

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_inuit5.html