The Spirit of the Sea

Overview

The creation story of one of the central figures in Inuit mythology This illustrated picture book tells the story of the spirit of the sea, known by many Inuktitut names including Nuliajuq, Sedna, and Takannaaluk, who is a key figure from the pantheon of Inuit lore. Sedna was once a young woman who refused to marry, but the lies and deception of a treacherous bird and her own father’s cowardice lead her to a life of solitude at the bottom of the ocean as the powerful, and at times vengeful, spirit of the sea. Steeped in Inuit traditional values and lifestyle, this book serves as an ideal introduction to the mythology of the first peoples to inhabit North America.

Author Biography

Rebecca Hainnu is the coauthor of A Walk on the Tundra, which was a finalist for the 2013 Canadian Children’s Round Table Information Book Award, and the coauthor of Walking with Aalasi: An Introduction to Edible and Medicinal Arctic Plants. She lives in Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada. Hwei Lim is the illustrator of the Boris and Lalage short stories series and Spera.