The Story of Sedna

The Unwanted Daughter

Sedna was born into an Inuit family living on the harsh, frozen shores of the Arctic. From the moment she entered the world, she was seen as a burden, unwanted and unloved by her parents. Her father, Anguta, a skilled hunter, and her mother, Ataana, struggled to provide for their family. In a land where every morsel of food was hard-won, having another mouth to feed was more than they could bear. Sedna’s cries echoed through the icy winds, her voice often drowned out by the howling gales.

As Sedna grew older, she became more beautiful than anyone could have imagined. Her long, raven-black hair flowed like a river of ink, and her dark eyes gleamed with the mystery of the night sky. Yet, despite her beauty, no one came forward to ask for her hand in marriage. Rumors spread that Sedna was cursed, that her beauty was a trick of the spirits who roamed the frozen wilderness. The more she aged, the more restless and desperate her parents became, fearing they would be stuck caring for her forever.

One evening, Anguta, tired of his daughter’s presence, decided that it was time to rid himself of the burden. He whispered to his wife that it was best they let her go, let the spirits of the sea take her if they so wished. Little did they know, Sedna was listening. She vowed silently that she would never let herself be cast aside so easily.

The Mysterious Stranger

One day, a mysterious stranger appeared at their village. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a cloak made of seabird feathers. His face was hidden beneath a hood, and his voice was deep and melodic. He approached Sedna’s father, asking for her hand in marriage, promising riches and plenty if only Anguta would agree.

Anguta, eager to be rid of his daughter, hastily agreed, and without even a chance to bid farewell to her home, Sedna was taken by this stranger across the sea to his island. As they journeyed, Sedna began to sense something was not right. The stranger’s voice changed, and his eyes, once kind, now gleamed with an eerie light.

Upon reaching his island, Sedna discovered the truth—this man was not human at all but a great, ravenous bird spirit. His kingdom was a barren, rocky place, and Sedna was forced to live in a small, wind-battered hut, eating only fish that the spirit brought her.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Sedna’s despair grew deeper, and she longed for her father to rescue her. She cried out to the wind, her voice mingling with the cries of the seabirds that circled the island.

Betrayal on the Sea

One day, Sedna’s cries reached her father’s ears. Stricken with guilt, Anguta decided to set out in his kayak to rescue his daughter. When he finally reached the island, Sedna rushed into his arms, weeping with relief. They hurriedly set off into the sea, paddling as fast as Anguta’s weary arms could manage.

But the bird spirit soon discovered Sedna’s escape. In his rage, he conjured a mighty storm. The sky darkened, the wind howled, and waves as tall as mountains crashed over the small kayak. Anguta, terrified for his life, realized that the spirit would not relent. In his panic, he turned to his daughter, and in a moment of desperation, he threw her overboard, hoping to save himself.

Sedna clung to the side of the kayak, her fingers numb from the icy water. She cried out to her father, begging him to help her, but Anguta, blinded by fear, took his paddle and began to strike her fingers. One by one, her fingers broke off and sank into the depths of the ocean. As they disappeared, they transformed into the creatures of the sea—seals, walruses, whales, and fish.

Sedna, now abandoned and betrayed, sank into the freezing waters, and as she fell, she felt herself changing. Her legs fused into a great, powerful tail, her hair became tangled with seaweed, and her hands, now fingerless, grew long, webbed claws. She had become a creature of the sea.

The Goddess of the Deep

From that moment on, Sedna ruled the ocean’s depths, becoming the goddess of all marine life. She was no longer the helpless girl cast aside by her family but a powerful being, feared and respected by all who knew of her. The creatures that had formed from her fingers swam around her, their eyes reflecting the sorrow and strength of their mother.

Yet Sedna’s heart remained heavy with grief and anger. She had been betrayed by those she loved most, and she vowed that she would never forgive them. The Inuit people soon learned that if they wished to have successful hunts and bountiful catches, they had to appease Sedna. Shamans would travel into trances, journeying to the bottom of the sea to comb Sedna’s hair and soothe her fury, asking for her blessings in return.

But Sedna was not always kind. If the people forgot her sacrifices, or if they disrespected the ocean, she would withhold her bounty, leaving their nets empty and their bellies hungry.

The Shaman’s Journey

One winter, when the ice grew thicker than it had in years and the sea creatures were nowhere to be found, the village elders decided to send their most skilled shaman, Qiluq, to appease Sedna. The people feared that she had grown angry and that her wrath would doom them all.

Qiluq prepared for days, fasting and meditating, until he finally entered a trance. His spirit traveled through the icy waters, descending into the dark depths where Sedna resided. There, he found her, her hair tangled and matted, her eyes glowing with rage. He approached her cautiously, his heart heavy with the knowledge that his people’s survival depended on his success.

“Why have you come?” Sedna’s voice echoed through the water, cold and unforgiving.

“I have come to ask for your forgiveness, Great Mother of the Sea,” Qiluq replied, bowing deeply. “The people have forgotten your pain, but they seek your mercy now.”

Sedna stared at him for what felt like an eternity before finally nodding. “Then comb my hair, shaman,” she commanded, “and perhaps I will consider your request.”

Qiluq took a comb made of bone and began to gently untangle her long, flowing hair. As he worked, he spoke of the people’s hardships, their hunger, and their fear. He told Sedna of the children who cried from hunger and the elders who prayed for her forgiveness.

Gradually, Sedna’s anger began to soften, and her heart ached for the people who once abandoned her. She allowed Qiluq to finish combing her hair and, with a gentle wave of her hand, sent him back to the surface. When the shaman awoke, he found that the ice had begun to crack, and seals and fish returned to the waters around the village.

The Lessons of the Sea

The story of Sedna is one that the Inuit tell to remind themselves of the fragile balance between humanity and nature. Sedna’s tale teaches that the sea, like life itself, is both generous and unforgiving. It can provide sustenance but can also take it away if it is disrespected or taken for granted.

Every year, as the cold winds blow and the ice begins to form, the people remember Sedna’s sacrifice. They offer her prayers and gifts, asking for her continued blessings and protection. The shamans still travel into trances to tend to her, combing her hair and soothing her anger, ensuring that she does not forget their respect and gratitude.

The Enduring Spirit of Sedna

Though centuries have passed, and the world has changed, the story of Sedna remains alive. It lives in the hearts and minds of the Inuit people, a reminder of the connection they share with the ocean and the spirits that dwell within it. It is a story of pain, resilience, and transformation—of how one woman’s suffering gave birth to the sea’s bounty and how, even in the darkest depths, there can be power and beauty.

As long as the ocean waves crash against the frozen shores, as long as the wind howls through the icy peaks, the spirit of Sedna will endure, forever watching over her children from the depths below.

And so, whenever the Inuit people take to the sea, they remember to whisper a prayer to Sedna, thanking her for her gift, and they know that she is always with them, her hair flowing in the currents, her eyes watching from the shadows. They honor her not just as a goddess but as a reminder that even in a world as harsh as

theirs, there is still room for compassion, strength, and the enduring spirit of survival.