Story #1: [Nature] The Tale of Sedna, the Inuit Goddess of the Seas

Dolphins are one of the most beloved animals of the seas in many cultures around the world, but do you know the folklore story of how they came to be? The most prevalent tale on the origin of dolphins is contained in an ancient legend about Sedna, the inuit goddess of the sea.

Sedna was a young inuit girl who attracted many suitors because of her remarkable beauty. One day, a bird spirit, in the form of a graceful young man, came to court her and carried many gifts of precious trinkles never seen before.

Flattered by his attention, Sedna accepted his proposal and left with him to his home. Alas, it was only then that she realised that he was a bird shapeshifter and was imprisoned by him in his nest on top of a perilous cliff across the sea.

Hearing her frantic cries for help, Sedna’s father rushed to rescue her in his boat as soon as the bird spirit left the nest to hunt for food. As they were on their way to return home, the bird spirit returned to the nest.

Wrathful at Sedna’s escape, the bird spirit conjured up a terrible storm to overturn the tiny boat. Fearful that he would not survive the storm, Sedna’s father threw her overboard in an attempt to appease the bird spirit. When she tried to grasp the edge of the boat, he took out his hunting knife and chopped off all her fingers and Sedna sank into the depths of the sea.

Each of Sedna’s fingers then became a great mammal of the deep — dolphins, seals, whales and walruses. Sedna herself turned into a deity of the sea, destined to rule the waves and govern over the animals formed from her flesh.