Those That Cause Fear

Taken from the Inuit folk tradition, the twenty creatures profiled in this picture-book guide all present dangers of a supernatural kind to the peoples of the far north. From Nuliajuk, seen on the front cover, who was sacrificed by her own father, eventually becoming a sort of guardian of the seas and the creatures it contains, to the kajjait, ever-hungry wolves born from wasted meat, the beings discussed here are all manifestations of real-world creatures and/or problems, magnified to a greater or lesser extent. They seem often to function as warnings and/or guides, reminding the people of the north to be respectful of the natural world and its inhabits, and to be mindful of the dangers of that world.

Like various other titles published show more by Inhabit Media, an Inuit-owned press based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Those That Cause Fear opens a window into a folk tradition with which many readers will be unfamiliar. The beings described in its pages are often fearsome, and always fascinating, accentuating the ever-present dangers of living in such an extreme and unforgiving environment. The illustrations, done by Inuit artist Germaine Arnaktauyok, capture the simultaneously beautiful and frightening nature of the creatures under discussion, while a guide at the rear gives the proper pronunciation for each Inuktitut name and term used. Recommended to anyone looking for books about Inuit folklore, or for guides to fantastical creatures. show less