A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Saunikoq envies Tungujuluk's son and summons a bearskin before approaching the children. Tungujuluk discovers the threat and nearly stabs the bear, but its laughter makes him recognize the neighbour. He restrains himself and waits. Later he calls his own walrus form, enters it and appears where Saunikoq hunts. When the harpoon is thrown he shifts himself aside within the skin, takes the line and float underwater, and escapes toward his kayak.

Tungujuluk returns to human hunting, catches a seal and hosts a meal. Saunikoq describes the walrus that cost him his gear, unaware of the trick. Tungujuluk produces the missing float and line before the assembled guests, identifying the act as repayment for the bear encounter. Shamed by their laughter, Saunikoq leaves northward and is not seen again. Their two forms and roles remain distinct: the attempted child-killer is the bear, while the retaliating father becomes the walrus.

Animal skins allow changes of formSaunikoq becomes bear; Tungujuluk walrusRetaliation culminates in public recognition
01

Origins & earliest records

The volume's final source list assigns this narrative to Godthaab, West Greenland. Knud Rasmussen collected the material; W. Worster edited and translated the1921 English selection. No individual storyteller is named for this episode. Worster explicitly states that he selected clear versions and omitted or edited passages, so this is not an unabridged oral-performance transcript.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected episode read through its final outcome; regional attribution checked against the final source list. Tungujuluk and Saunikoq, begins printed p.148. Modern biological assumptions are not substituted for the story's transformations.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Eskimo Folk-Tales

    Knud Rasmussen, collector; W. Worster, editor and English translator · 1921

    Tungujuluk and Saunikoq, begins printed p.148. Complete episode and source-list attribution read.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary textRasmussen/Worster1921: Tungujuluk and Saunikoq, begins printed p.148.Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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