A Treasury of Eskimo Tales

A vivid tapestry of life beneath the Arctic sky, this collection gathers the oral traditions of the Central Eskimo and their Bering‑Strait cousins. The introductory notes paint a stark portrait of a people who carve existence from ice, seal, reindeer and a world of taboos, offering listeners a glimpse into the rhythms of hunting, shamanic rites and the relentless cold that shapes every story.

Within the first chapters, listeners meet a newborn cradled in a snow‑hut, burdened with the names of the departed, and discover how a simple naming ritual can become a weight as heavy as the winter winds. The tales then turn to a humble grandmother protecting her “bird‑boy” from teasing, introducing characters whose cleverness and resilience reflect the community’s values. Richly illustrated and narrated, each legend carries humor, moral nuance, and a deep respect for the land that sustains them, inviting you to wander the frozen archipelago through the power of spoken tradition.