Uvavnuk
Uvavnuk was a female angakkuq (shamaness) of the Iglulik Inuit in the early 20th century, and now considered an oral poet.
Uvavnuk has been written about in several books on mysticism. A common report is that she experienced a "glowing ball of fire in the sky" and afterwards gained a "telepathic sensitivity" helping her know the "thoughts and hidden actions of others".[1][2][3] She has been described as a healer.[3] Uvavnuk has been described as an Inuit female shaman of the Netsilik or Iglooik tribes, and also as a "shamaness".[1] After her visual experience with the "ball of fire", she reportedly sang this song:
- The great sea moves me, sets me adrift.
- It moves me like algae on stones in running brook water.
- The vault of heaven moves me.
- Mighty weather storms through my soul.
- It carries me with it.
- Trembling with joy. [4]
Uvavnuk's poems have appeared in collections of poetry,[5] appear in online collections,[6] and have been used by peace groups such as Out Beyond Ideas in songs.[3] Her poetry was initially recorded in a book called Song of Uvavnuk by Knud Rasmussen sometime in the early 1900s.[3]
References
- 1 2 Hollenback, Jess Byron (2000). Mysticism: Experience, Response, and Empowerment. The Pennsylvania State University Press. pp. 44, 45. ISBN 0-271-01551-9.
- ↑ Uvavnuk (2009-09-13). "Uvavnuk was an Inuit (Netsilik or Iglooik) female shaman, 19th century". CHQSES: A World of Illustrated Poetry. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- 1 2 3 4 "Beneficiary Organization Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding". Out Beyond Ideas. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ↑ Tedlock, Barbara (2005). The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the Feminine in Religion and Medicine. Bantam. p. 85. ISBN 0-553-10853-0.
- ↑ Stephen Mitchell (2009-09-13). "The Enlightened Heart (Paperback)". Amazon. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
- ↑ Uvavnuk (2009-09-14). ""The Great Sea" by Uvavnuk". Poetry Online. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
Sources
- Penny Petrone. Northern Voices: Inuit Writing in English. University of Toronto Press, 1992. ISBN 0-8020-7717-X, 9780802077172. Pg 21.