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Presents...
That's Just a Myth!
Chapter 2: Nanook, Inuit Master of the Bears
Hear thee, hear thee, Young and Young-at-Heart Explorers! And a warm welcome to That's Just a Myth! Here in this segment of the Something Niche pantheon, we dive into one of the most classic forms of storytelling; the ever-expansive world of Mythology! These are tales that have existed for thousands of years, and in several cases, have gone on to influence several of modern pop culture's most enduring legends and characters.
Every part of the world has had their own myths and legends that tell of stories of how the Earth came to be, the divine beings who watch over it, legendary heroes who accomplished impossible odds, and the legendary beasts who struck fear into the hearts of humanity. And while many of these tales may or may not be mere fantasy (depending on who you ask), that doesn't make them any less fascinating, which is why oral traditions and other major forms of storytelling have kept them alive throughout the centuries.
From the Gods of Greece to the Dragons of the East, no legend will be off the radar of That's Just a Myth!
Giving that it's the cold, nippy month of January (and with several parts of my home sweet home of the U.S. having just been caught under a blanket of snow at the time of me writing this!), we've decided to dedicate our first episode about a deity to the Inuit tribe of the Eskimos. This group of unique individuals have been known to make their homes in many of the world's most snowy regions, particularly in Greenland, Northern Canada, and the U.S State of Alaska, often keeping to themselves in the wilderness.
And among their pantheon of deities, arguably the most notable of them all comes in the form of Nanook. An awesome being who's name literally means "polar bear" in the Inuit's language of Inuktitut, Nanook, whose name has also occasionally been spelled Nanuk, has been described as essentially the Arctic's Big Cheese. He rules over the Arctic and its many natural wonders and has been worshipped by the Inuit tribe as a guardian and as a God of the Hunt.
Much like many different Gods across many different pantheons, Nanook was also a great spiritual leader, with many of the Inuit hunters seeking guidance from him during the hunt. And even today, as the world has become much more modernized, Nanook is still seen as a revered being among the Inuit tribe. At least, as far as storytelling seems to be concerned!
But what exactly are the legends and the general ins and outs of this mysterious being? How did this legend come to be? And what mysteries does this so-called Guardian of the Arctic hold? Perhaps its time we found out!
So, pull up an ice block as we make some nice warm cocoa and roast some fish under the Northern Lights. Because this is the legend of the nifty Nanook!
Right to Bear Arms
As with many Gods, Nanook's physical description has often changed around from telling to telling. However, he is most commonly depicted as taking the form of the same animal he is said to have all mastery over; the humble polar bear. It has also been said that he combines this form with the human ability to stand on two legs, something that actual polar bears have often been seen doing in real life.
Nanook is said to be the guardian over all of the frozen realms and was said to have served as a spiritual connection between the Arctic and all of the Inuit people who inhabited it. He was also revered as a deity of the hunt and is said to have even had influence over the luck of hunters, who would often have to perform devotionals just before the hunt officially began.
The Inuit were a group of individuals who strongly relied on hunting animals to survive. They would hunt the polar bear for both its meat and to make clothes out of its fur. These included soft boots for the women in the family, called Kamiks. It is said that Nanook had control over the availability and movement of all bears, something that was no doubt integral to the success of hunts.
Among the multiple devotionals that the Inuit would perform for Nanook, they believed that when killing a bear, man was required to make offerings to its spirit and keep the bear's hide in order to receive Nanook's blessings. Those who took the proper procedures and honored the bear's spirit would be given success and security in life and would be guaranteed success in future hunts. However, those who did not would be punished with unsuccessful hunts, which could've certainly proved detrimental to survival in the harsh conditions of the Arctic.
Different offerings were also made depending on the gender of the bear in question. Males would be offered knives and other forms of weaponry, while the females were offered tools such as needle cases and scrapers. These bears' spirits would then be able to travel peacefully to the afterlife, where they would share good news of their treatment to other animals. Their spirits would also serve under Nanook in the afterlife, sometimes being reborn or becoming guidance spirits for humanity.
A Hugger AND a Fighter
In addition to being seen as a wise guide to all hunters, Nanook was also said to be a skilled and ferocious hunter himself. He has been described has having robust movements and agile limbs, and his white fur provided perfect camouflage in the Arctic snow. His massive size also made for a great deterrent against those who would dare oppose him.
In one notable tale, Nanook found himself being pursued by a group of vicious hunting dogs. The chase was endless, with Nanook barely able to shake his pursuers. The excitement of the hunt eventually brought the group to the edge of the Earth. Nanook and his pursuers, unaware of where they were, drove themselves off of the edge, and plunged into the starry night sky. This event has been said to be the Inuit's origin of the constellation known as the Pleiades.
In some tellings, Nanook was also said to be a true family man. Sometimes, his wife was said to be a beautiful she-bear, who embodied many great nurturing qualities that were said to be akin to his own power. Others depicted his partner as being the Inuit sea goddess Sedna, though which, he was able to extend his influence and control to the beings of the Arctic seas. He could calm and stir the waters of the ocean in order to affect the behavior of seals and walruses, two more animals that were hunted for sustenance by the Inuit.
In many other depictions, Nanook was also said to be a very humble family man. He is said to have had many cubs, with each of them inheriting his immense strength and resilience. This strength and resilience, in turn, was reflected through the lives of many Inuit hunters.
However, perhaps the most important attribute that was associated to Nanook was that of a totem ancestor to the Inuit tribe. As we already know, polar bears served as a great resource for the Inuit tribe. Well, many Inuit tribe members also found many connections between polar bears and humans. Much like humans, they were capable of standing on two legs and had long fingers that were seen as slightly similar to a human's. Nanook's perceived ability to change between human and bear form further enforced these ideals.
Soul to Bear (The Themes of Nanook's Story)
But was any of this story true? Or was it just a legend made by curious minds in search of an answer to their creation?
Well, whether or not the story of Nanook was 100% true or not, we can say that a lot of themes surrounding his legend are certainly real and were indeed indicative of several ways of Inuit life. This could be seen especially with his status as a God of the Hunt, a profession that made up much of the Inuit lifestyle.
The Arctic was (and come to think of it, still is!) a very cold and brutal place, so naturally, hunting was more than necessary for survival when it came to survival, or even putting food on the table. And Nanook's perceived ability to control bears that needed to be slaughtered serves as a reminder of the Inuit tribe's relationship with nature, and the fact that they would often have to learn to co-exist with it in order to survive. And the fact that he could influence the luck of hunts depending on the success of a particular devotional was indicative of humanity's relationship with nature
It should also be noted that Nanook's chosen form was a polar bear, an animal that is known for being particularly headstrong and brave. It was, and still is, an apex predator and hunter of the wild, just like Nanook himself. A symbol of bravery and resilience in a harsh environment. And since Nanook took the form of this image in legend, he too could be seen as a symbol of resilience and bravery. A reminder to those who worshipped him to stay strong in the face of danger, less they succumb to the relentless cold of the Arctic.
It should also be noted that like a lot of Native and Eskimo tribes, the Inuit were firm believers in the idea of animism. This idea declared that every person, place, or thing was sentient and had a soul, including the wildlife of a given area. And several tellings have also depicted Nanook as having the ability to appear human and blur the line between man and animal. This can be seen as a reflection of the ideas of animism.
And lastly, there were even a few instances where Nanook was depicted as a family man, who raised several cubs who went on to become as strong as he was. He also had a wife who was as powerful and strong-willed as he was. With this, it could be argued that Nanook may have also been an ideal role model for young Inuit men, with his achievements serving as inspiration and motivation for young men to do become greater. Just like any other great hero story!
Nanook Gets Cultured!
Now comes one of my personal favorite parts of articles such as this; how our subject for today has been immortalized in popular culture! These are the favorites in movies, television, video games, and everything else in between where the many deities of multiple pantheons have graced their presence.
Sadly, compared to a lot of other major pantheons and folklore, Inuit mythology hasn't been quite as present. This could stem from the tribe's tendency to be rather closed off from the rest of the world in the past. And consequently, Nanook himself hasn't made many appearances compared to the more widespread figures of other mythologies.
However, just because the legend hasn't appeared very frequently doesn't mean it hasn't shown up at all in popular culture, as Nanook has had several small, but very notable appearances in film, video games, and other forms of popular media.
One of Nanook's most notable appearances in popular culture is in the lesser-known online game Diggy's Adventure. Here, Nanook makes an appearance alongside multiple other deities in the Terra region. He can even offer the player a quest to complete for some sweet rewards.
On occasions where Nanook himself has not appeared physically (likely due to a lack of knowledge from the legend's relative obscurity), several creators have still adopted his name for use. Perhaps most notably, a dog named Nanook, played by an Alaskan Malamute named Cody, appeared in the classic 80s vampire flick The Lost Boys. One of the main antagonists of the popular gacha RPG Honkai: Star Rail is also named Nanook and is pictured above.
However, perhaps the most notable use of Nanook name comes in the form of a particular influential film. That film is the 1922 silent docudrama Nanook of the North. Shot by Robert J. Flaherty, who grew up as the son of an ore miner, Nanook of the North tells the story of an Eskimo man and his family, and the many trials that they face living out in North.
At least, that's what it would seem. A lot of Nanook of the North was actually greatly exaggerated and staged, leaving out some of the actual details of its titular star's life. In fact, his name wasn't even Nanook in reality, but rather Allakariallak. And he became infatuated to star in the film after being introduced to the then-newly introduced technology of film while meeting with Flaherty in a general store one day.
Furthermore, several of the family members depicted in the film weren't even actual family members of Allakariallak. A few were actually friends and family of Flaherty himself. A few important details were also left out, such as the fact the Allakariallak would often hunt with guns, as opposed to solely using spears in the film.
After many of these secrets got out to the general public, Flaherty's film would end up embroiled in controversy that continues to this day. Many believed that he deliberately exaggerated Allakariallak's life on film and depicted the Eskimo community as primitive and savage, whereas much of the community has since been modernized in recent years.
Despite this, Nanook of the North has gone on to be well-respected amongst film historians, being cited as an early ancestor to the modern nature documentary and an influence on the medium. It has been preserved in the National Film Registry and continues to be discussed to this day.
And so, Young and Young-at-Heart explorers, what have we learned today? That even the most seemingly barren places in the world can be home to some of the most unique and intriguing of legends. And this includes the coldest parts of the Arctic, which has the legend of Nanook.
Nanook has been worshipped as both a terrifying beast and a wise mentor, influencing the luck of hunters in the Inuit tribe through their ritual sacrifice of bears. He brings serenity and good fortune to those who honor the traditions of nature and treat it well, but can also punish those who practice taboos among the tribe. He also acts as a much-needed (at least in this particular environment's case) mediator between the natural environment and humanity, often controlling the movement of wildlife and other major factors needed for survival.
Also, much like a lot of other deities across other cultures, Nanook has also had his own fair share of intriguing tales to his name, however few and far between they may be. These include the possibility of being a missing link between man and animal via the Inuit people's belief in a totem ancestry with the polar bear. And the legend of Nanook has further tried to support this link with Nanook's ability to appear as both human and beast, or even somewhere in between! He even has his own constellation seemingly linked to him!
And in some of these legends, Nanook has even been able to tell a very human story that can inspire many impressionable young lads. We've seen him as a father figure to a group of cubs who have managed to follow in their Dear Old Dad's footsteps and as half of a true power couple with a powerful Goddess that has even helped extend his reach even further! Truly an example that more young men nowadays need to follow!
While he may not be as widespread in the world as the likes of Zeus or Thor, Nanook is just as Godly, and his tale as continued to be immortalized in written text and elsewhere to this very day. And with the advent of the Internet age bringing cultures together like never before, the legend of Nanook still has a huge audience to share itself with.
But what are your thoughts? Do you find Nanook to be a fascinating deity? Have you taken interest in learning more about Inuit culture after reading this article? Are you interested in seeing other tales about Gods and their links to animals? Please share your thoughts in the comments section, and don't be afraid to share this post with friends and family on social media! And tell your friends about my blog so it can really take off!
But as for Nanook...
That's Just a Myth!
Sources:
Dukes, H. (2025, February 11). Reality iced: Robert J. Flaherty’s *nanook of the north* (1922). The Public Domain Review. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/nanook-of-the-north/
Ettleman, T. “Does It Matter If Nanook of the North Isn’t Exactly True to Life? | by Tristan Ettleman | Medium.” Medium, 3 May 2019, trettleman.medium.com/does-it-matter-if-nanook-of-the-north-isnt-exactly-true-to-life-d780dfead480.
Gods, O. W. (2024, April 14). Nanook Inuit mythology: The powerful spirit of the Arctic. Old World Gods. https://oldworldgods.com/inuit/nanook-inuit-mythology/
Nair, N. (2025, November 26). Nanook : The polar bear god. Mythlok. https://mythlok.com/nanook/
Spells, M. (2025, February 28). The Polar Bear God. acknowledging and celebrating… | by muse spells | mythology journal | medium. Medium. https://medium.com/mythology-journal/the-polar-bear-god-568ea168c892
Staff, I. (2014, September 14). Pleiades: The Seven sisters surround the moon. https://ictnews.org/archive/pleiades-the-seven-sisters-surround-the-moon/
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