16: Arctic Shapeshifters Part 1 - The MOZ Ruins Christmas Special

In this first ever Monster Lore Tour Holiday special, we take you to the frozen North above the Arctic Circle. Moz explores the commonality and the complexity of the many arctic shapeshifters haunting the frozen wastes. Then, to the horror of children near and far, he ruins Christmas forever with his Rudolph the Red Nosed Not-Deer thesis.

Thank you once again to Mr. Tim Leavy for writing us the greatest theme song in the paranormal realms. You can find him at https://www.timleavy.com/

 

References:

A Matrilineal North: Michelet, J. (1995). Witchcraft, sorcery and superstition. Carol Pub. Group, p xiii intro

One Circumpolar Group: Campbell, J.(1969). Flight of the wild gander. Harper Perennial, p166

Werebears: https://maverickwerewolf.com/articles/bear-shapeshifters-werebears/

The White Reindeer: https://diaboliquemagazine.com/looking-back-at-the-white-reindeer-1952/

The Ulfhednar & the Svinfylking:  Kachuba, J.B. (2019). Shapeshifters: a history. Reaktion Books, Ltd, p37

Skipta homun: Redfern, N. (2017). Shapeshifters: Morphing monsters and changing cryptids. Llewellyn Publications, p124

Trolls, Blamaor & Brummiji: Jakobsson, A. (2011). Beast and Man: Realism and the Occult in "Egil’s saga", Scandinavian Studies 83(1), p29-44

Ahklut: https://encyclopediamythologica.com/ahklut

Orca: http://www.native-languages.org/killer-whale.htm

Adlet & Keelut: Anchorage Daily News

https://www.adn.com/features/article/alaska-folklore-five-mythical-creatures-last-frontier/2012/06/13/

The Koryak & Kalaw: King, A.D. (2008). Soul suckers: vampiric shamans in northern Kamchatka, Russia. Anthropology of Consciousness 10(4), p57–68

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229977506_Soul_Suckers_Vampiric_Shamans_in_Northern_Kamchatka_Russia

Quikinna'qu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quikinna%27qu

Surale: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/%C5%9E%C3%BCr%C3%A4le

Mongolian Cosmology & more: Solovyeva, A. (2020). Faces of Mongolian fear: Demonological beliefs, narratives and protective measures in contemporary folk religion. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 14(1)

Erlaveveersiniooq, Tuurngaq, Qalupalik Maqgoo: https://www.inuitartfoundation.org/iaq-online/your-guide-to-the-monsters-in-inuit-art

Ijiraq: https://mythologyplanet.com/ijiraq-inuit-mythology/

Qitsualik Story: https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/qitsualik-shapeshifter-an-inuit-tale

Penobscot shamanism: Speck, Frank Gouldsmith, 1881-1950

https://archive.org/details

Kigatilik: Bane, T. (2016). Encyclopedia of beasts and monsters in myth, legend and folklore. Mcfarland & Co., p586

Kigutilik origins: the “shaman killer” derived from Rasmussen:

“ The big one is called Nålaqnaq ; the listener; large mouth, two teeth, tongue protruding, shapeless hands with six fingers; moves at a run. The other is Pungoq, or the dog; long ears, two mouths, three legs, the rearmost shapeless. One night while sleeping in a stone shelter these evil spirits came over him and would have eaten him if the dogs had not kept them at a distance. — Below: Kigutilik, or the spirit with the giant's teeth. One spring he was out sealing, and this monster came up out of an opening in the ice; it was as big as a bear but higher; with long legs which had large bumps at the joints; two tails, one big ear that only seemed to be joined to a fold in the skin, and teeth as gross as a walrus's tusks. It was bare and only had hair in fringes. It emitted a mighty roar: "Ah — ah — ah!", and he became so frightened that he fled home without first securing it for a helping spirit. Drawn by Anarqåq.

Rasmussen, K. (1929). Intellectual Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos. Glydendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag, Copenhagen, (Diagram after p 176)