The Inuit tribes of the Northern Polar Regions led simple lives. They were a proud people
fueled by tradition and superstition. Laughter was common and the mood was free and
easy. They enjoyed life and lived to preserve it. At times their only focus was on survival.
This instinct was brought on by the harsh climate and environmental landscape that they
came to love and respect. It was not uncommon for temperatures reach as low as ninety
degrees below zero where spit would freeze before it hit the ground. Food was scarce and
hunting and fishing would be solely relied upon for survival. If a family or tribe did not
have a good hunter amongst them, then their existence was not assured. However with
the providings from a strong male hunter a family would have no worries restraining them
from living the proud yet simple life that they were accustomed to; being burdened only by
their fearful attention to superstitions that guided their lifestyle.
Many generations of Inuit societies lived at peace with their surroundings fearing
nothing, yet respecting the land. They believed that if there was not a great bond or
interrelationship with their well being and that of their surroundings, it would led to an
unfortunate outcome. From this came numerous superstitions or rituals done to please the
earth, water, or air and their inhabitants whether living or dead. The simple act of eating
brought upon many such superstitions that were to strictly to be followed as if to not to
"arouse the ire of the spirits."(21) One such act was to be carefully certain as to not
"touch fish while eating meat"(21) or vice versa. Other tasks called for other distinct
assurances against the collisions of fate. Travel was one such task; to insure a safe trip
many items had to be brought along to ward off the lurking misfortunes. Such items
included "a tuft of white rabbit hair against fro...