The image at left is a drawing by Inuit artist and writer Alootook Ipellie (1951-2007), and is entitled "Self-Portrait: Inverse Ten Commandments." In the story accompanying the drawing, Ipellie dreams of himself as Satanasee (Inuktitut for Satan), and in his dreams each of his fingers becomes an "inverse commandment," coming to life with a face a a mouth filled with sharp little teeth that tear at his flesh. It's an apt if somewhat grotesque metaphor for the current spiritual condition of people of Ipellie's generation; they must live in two worlds -- the old shamanistic one with its built-in fear and fatalism, or the new Christian one that circumscribes and limits their spiritual development with rules and ideas that are foreign to traditional Inuit culture. Ipellie, who struggled with both the rejection of his work by supposed "connoisseurs" of Inuit art and the modern northern blight of alcoholism, only made it to the age of 56 before he died of a heart attack.
The division of modern Inuit between those who, like Ipellie, can recall the onset of western culture and forced settlements, and the generations after, is further complicated by religious divisions. Inuit filmmaker Zacharaias Kunuk has spoken about the hatred between Protestants and Catholics in Igloolik; one missionary from each faith converted half the town, and Kunuk compared the hostile border through the middle of the settlement to the Green Line in Beruit, which separated Muslims from Christians; he recalled children throwing stones at one another across this sectarian border. Evangelical denominations have had particular growth in the past few decades, and when Inuit politician Tagak Curley adopted the campaign slogan "Jesus is Lord over Nunavut," he counted on evangelicals for their support (he lost, narrowly).
Unfortunately, Ipellie's most brilliant and lasting work, the collection, Arctic Dreams and Nightmares, is out of print and getting harder and harder to find. Fortunately, there's an article about him, Kimberly McMahon-Coleman's "Dreaming an Identity Across Two Cultures: The Works of Alootook Ipellie," which discusses his work at length, and includes many of the drawings -- you can read and download it here for free. The story that's based on the drawing above, "Self Portrait: Inverse Ten Commandments" is included in "Alootook Ipellie: Artist Writer Dreamer!" I've also made one additional story, "When God Sings the Blues," available here via the blog. You can also read his stories "A Frobisher Bay Childhood" and "Damn Those Invaders" here.
Madison Kite
ReplyDeleteAssignment #8: Alootook Ipellie
I am going to start out by saying that I am probably biased. I grew up around multiple religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, the Muslim faith, Catholicism, Lutheranism, and other branches of Christianity. I have visited and participated in Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, and various Christian churches. Personally, I don't believe in any single religion because I feel that all religions have their own validity and coexist in their own ways.
Reading Alootook Ipellie's poems reminds me of the potential consequences when faith is taken to extremes. This does not happen to everyone, and there are millions of good religious people, but when they get consumed, it’s like blinders come on, and they cannot see how anyone else could believe in something else. This can result in conflicts or even attempts to impose one’s religion on others. I think that, for example, when Christian people came to Nunavut under the cover of “converting” people, they were going back on everything they were originally preaching. The Christians and the Canadian government were not just “converting” people, but they were also committing horrible acts like building schools that physically and mentally abused Inuit children, stripped their faith, and instilled their own (a lot of the time, this leads to religious pluralism, which is really interesting).
“Spreading the word of God” itself is not harmful. If someone wants to preach about how their religion is amazing, that is great. Plenty of missionaries (I think that is what they are) come to Rhode Island College in Donovan and always seem to find me. I listen to them, appreciate their passion, and politely decline their invitations to their new groups without any negative reactions on either side. I don’t mind listening because they usually seem like a good person talking about something they passionately believe in. However, it is a problem when religious groups start imposing their beliefs on others and promoting harmful ideologies, losing sight of their original values.
I think you make a good point about how some religions, especially in the past, were consumed and believed that only their own thoughts were the right one. It is horrible that Christians (any any type of christianity religion) traveled into an area and "converted" people into following their beliefs. People should be able to have their own beliefs, and practice them as long as it is not disrupting anyone else in the same sense. I feel this goes for many controversial topics that are occurring in today's society, practice what you wish but there is no reason to force your opinions or points of view on other people to make yourself feel better.
DeleteMadison,
DeleteI agree with your comment. I feel that when faith is taken to extremes it can lead to many conflicts and can impose beliefs on others. It is crucial to respect different faiths. I love to hear that you are positive and respectful when others talk about their passion, as I would do the same thing. We need more people like us in this world, we should all be inclusive and have people express their spirituality freely.
Madison Brodeur
I understand what you're saying, Madison but I am a Christian; therefore, sharing the gospel with others is the essence of what I believe in. However, I feel that there is a way to evangelize without "forcing our beliefs on others." I, too have dealt with extremely pushy evangelists that I have been unable to receive from due to their overbearing nature. When I first accepted Jesus Christ, the person who "witnessed" to me shared her faith with me without using fear and force and listening to her testimony caused me to want to get to know this Jesus. When I witness to people, I start by sharing my personal testimony that led me to my spiritual journey and my aim is to let people know that Jesus loves them and that He has a plan for their lives and that He is coming soon, which I believe is a reality. I do not force anything on anyone. God is a gentleman. He doesn't force Himself on anyone, but I believe that He has the power to change the hearts of those who may be resistant or unsure about Him. I have seen Muslims accept Jesus, not because I forced Him on them but they were moved by my testimony and it inspired them to come to know God. However, I accept that some people might not be ready and I don't continue to harass them if they don't want to receive the gospel. Like I said, God is a gentleman. He doesn't force Himself on anyone. He loves us, and He simply wants us to know that the gospel is available to anyone regardless of whatever their beliefs, precepts, or lifestyles are and whatever sin they think they have committed. I am not ashamed of the gospel, and kudos to those who are bold enough to share it. I believe we need to get the Word out, but there's a way to do it without using scare tactics and force.
DeleteYes Alex, I see what you are saying, but I’m not saying that religion itself is bad. To sum up my previous post, there are extremists that “convert” people through force. That is amazing you accepted Jesus and that you convert people without force and just with your speeches. But that is not what happened to Inuit people. They didn’t see the kindness that you bring to others. It is great that you saw the good side of religion, but there is an ugly dark side to it as well. So my passage is not targeting all religious people, as I stated, but it is directed at extremist ideologies.
DeleteMadison Kite
agree 100% !!
Deletevery well stated!!
-VL
One poem that spoke to me was “Walking Both Sides of an Invisible Border.” It was very relatable because I have had my own share of trauma in my life. I suddenly became very ill in my sophomore year of high school with a virus that resembled mono or Epstein Barr, and from that I developed severe symptoms that looked like an autoimmune disorder but that was never confirmed with a diagnosis. To add insult to injury, my dad passed away unexpectedly due to a heart attack two months before my high school graduation. The grief, coupled with an undiagnosed illness that rendered me practically an invalid along with the typical pressures of the end of my senior year made it extremely difficult for me to cope and concentrate on anything. Consequently, I was in an automobile accident that I believe would have killed me if God had not intervened and saved my life. But sadly, I had to endure years of intensive physical therapy including the wrong kind at one time and the underlying autoimmune situation made it difficult for me to complete any physical therapy program. I spent the remainder of my teenage years and much of my twenties surviving, but not living. I missed my high school graduation, and I had to give up a $16,000 grant that I had received at a college in New Hampshire called Rivier. I had to move back home with my mother, which put a strain on our relationship to say the least and I was forced to surrender my driver’s license when I turned twenty-one because I was not recovering, and my mother could no longer afford to pay for my car insurance. I finally went on disability when I turned thirty, which gave me some relief but then my mom suddenly became very ill. She had lung cancer, which she managed to beat in November of 2011 but sadly the cancer returned as quickly as she went into remission and my mother, my rock, my only family and caregiver passed away. Just like the author said, I felt like I had one foot in my old life, where I was a healthy athlete who was on the track team, a powerful swimmer, and cross-country skier and my parents were alive and the other foot in my new life as a sickly, disabled woman with no one to call family. His analogy of having one foot in his lost Inuit culture and one foot in this English culture that he found extremely difficult to navigate really hit home for me. The only thing that allowed me to endure and survive this ordeal was Jesus, who is my Lord and Savior which brings me to the next poem that spoke to me.
ReplyDeleteThe other poem, “It Was Not ‘Jajai-ja-jiijaa’ Anymore, but ‘Amen,” really spoke to me. I am a Christian, and I have learned that it is our duty, as Christians to share the gospel with others. If we think about it, those poor people endured unspeakable trauma by being deported and robbed of their culture; therefore, they may have needed an element of hope to cling to and that hope is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I agree that the way Christianity had been presented to them was too abrasive, but at the end of the day they still received the saving Word of God which could also be a comfort to them if they met kind Christians who gently and underhandedly shared the gospel with them. Ultimately, I believe that anyone can benefit from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ which is not a religion. If you read my testimony in the last paragraph, I am living proof that Jesus is still alive today and that anyone can benefit from having a personal relationship with Him and knowing the gospel. I was radically healed in 2015 from autoimmune dysfunction and complications from an automobile accident to a point where I got off disability, and now am a full-time student who works part-time. I went from only being able to walk 50-100 feet to walking almost three miles, swimming, and doing Zumba. I know it was Jesus Who touched me and healed me, which is what inspired me to follow Him.
The topic of religion and culture has been the source of many wars, and some religious groups tend to be more aggressive and forceful in trying to convert those deemed as savages. The Inuit people, American Indians, native groups of the amazon, and certain tribes from Africa and Asia, in history, had fallen victim to forced Christianity and the western world for many years in the past. There is an article called “The rapture and the rupture: Religious change amongst the Inuit of the North Baffin Island” that I believe touches on this topic. I also remember watching a Tv show (1923) that touched on such a topic where the American Indians were forced into conversion schools run by nuns and priests. Those Indigenous people were brutally beaten whenever they showed any signs of resistance to the teachings of the gospel in which most ended up dead. They were very afraid of practicing any of their native traditions.
ReplyDeleteThe poem “It Was Not ‘Jajai-ja-jiijaaa‘ Anymore – But ‘Amen” is a perfect example of how the loss of old traditions evokes a feeling of loss and displacement in the hearts of the native people of that region. What they considered a simple life was no more. I have been privileged to learn about different religions and I am a Catholic, but I do not confine myself to just the few passages selected to be read during mass but make it my duty to read the bible as a hole and learn from its teachings without taking certain passages literally. The is nothing wrong with spreading the word of God. However, using violence to force people to follow the traditions of specific Christian groups is wrong.
The following (from “Walking Both Sides of an Invisible Border”) touched my heart:
“I did not ask to be born an Inuk”
“Nor did I ask to be forced”
“To learn an alien culture”
Imagine for a moment how deeply and truly you believe in God and Jesus Christ as a Christian then one day another religious group comes along and tells you that what you believe in is wrong and force you to follow their way. Imagine the feeling of confusion, how nerve racking it would be.
This feeling is portrayed here:
“Each and everyday”
“Is a fighting day”
“A war of raw nerves”
I believe understanding the traditional prayer rituals and cultures of others should be the first step followed by sharing what you know to be true. The decision to choose what religion you want to be a part of should be the choice of the individual. After all, God give us all free will and placed each of us in the parts of the world where he saw fit. Find the similarities and differences in cultures and forms of worship. God may be one and the same to all, but their way of worshiping may just be different from yours.
~Jaycee~
Jaycee, I agree that their evangelism style was brutal and abusive. I saw a movie once about two Native children who were taken by the government and sent to a Catholic school run by nuns and priests who were brutally abusive to them. Their story was inconclusive, which might suggest that they died. Using fear and force is not the way to evangelize to people.
DeleteYes Alex, and I feel that because of horrible stories like this, people shy away from religion.
Delete~Jaycee~
Which is very sad, because that is not what God wanted for His people. Jesus never bullied anyone, nor used fear and force to get people to follow Him. This is a perverted, man-made version of Christianity.
DeleteReligion has always been a controversial topic. I was raised in a Catholic religion. I would love to welcome those who would like to adore Jesus Christ. However, I do understand that respect is very important, and others' beliefs must be respected. There are many religious groups that are too aggressive in regard to what they believe and what they think the rest should believe in. I think that is okay to welcome people to other religious, but not enforced. Unfortunately, the enforced conversion of Inuit and other Indigenous peoples to Christianity often came with significant cultural and spiritual consequences, disrupting traditional ways of life and imposing foreign values and practices.
ReplyDeleteYeison De La Rosa
When reading "Walking Both Sides of an Invisible Border" it made me reflect on my life and it felt like I could relate in my own way. I grew up in a Christian household and although I am blessed a lot of the times it feels overwhelming especially because of my mom, don't get me wrong she is the best and I love her but she is the type of Christian to really force it onto you. Since Christianity was basically forced on to me rather than me finding my own way into accepting God I felt kind of a push back I know that is how it was especially with my two brothers one stopped going all together and another sleeps through church but my mom lets it mostly slide with them but with me she makes sure I go and pay attention so I do not end up like my brothers. Anyway the reason I mention this is because I feel like my siblings and I can relate to the part when it said "I did not ask to be born and Inuk" "Nor did I ask to be forced" "To learn an alien culture". I have a constant battle of trying to be happy and trusting God's plan for me and my anxiety, depression, and other things I go through and I sometimes think to myself exactly that "I did not ask to be born". I feel like going back and forth I am also walking on both sides and being "sentenced to a torture chamber without having committed a crime" because I am my own enemy at times. I feel bad at times because although my parents love me I am not the perfect Christian daughter they probably wish I was even though christians are all sinners you know what I mean. I am just trying my best whatever that looks like for that day and trying to stop just existing but also living but I still relate to when it said "I feel like an illegitimate child Forsaken by my parents At least I can claim innocence Since I did not ask to come Into this world". "I have resorted to fancy dancing In order to survive each day" is another part I relate to because I am always trying something to do to take my mind off things and that may bring even the smallest amount of happiness because me being happy is important for my mental health and it is something I try to prioritize when I can so I tend to do self care things like take pictures on my digital cameras, draw, paint, listen to music, sing, dance, sleep, watch my shows/movies, play games, enjoy nature, journal, read, swim, workout, do my makeup, cook/bake, do diy arts & crafts, go on walks, and play games. "Sometimes the border becomes so wide That I am unable to take another step My feet being too far apart" but then there are days where life itself seems like too much and I am not able to take care of myself like I should and I just freeze and end up spending most of my day overthinking. "Deciding for me where I would come from And what I would become" This reminds me of how my mom would tell me that God knows everything about me before I am even born and that he knows everything that is going to happen which is another thing that is also amazing but also makes me anxious. "I have a fair share of wins and losses When will all this end This senseless battle" I just want to let myself be fully happy and I know it is good to let myself feel my emotions but sometimes I forget to let the feeling pass and move on and I have waves of emotions but I get it from my parents they are the opposite but at least I am aware and doing better.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading "When God Sings the Blues" I thought it was weird how they envied Satan since he is close with God and being able to visit him is a weird concept for me to wrap my head around like imagine being able to hear everyone's thoughts and Satan being rich doesn't surprise me and him being depressed was funny to me and how tries to cheer him up and I loved how music actually worked it was funny but relatable because I am the same way.
I personally enjoyed “Damn those invaders”.
ReplyDeleteI found it to be a great source for an inside look at the impact of colonization in the Inuit community as seen from their point of view, and i simply really enjoyed the narrative and the details. I do have to say that i take the words of Ipellie with a grain of salt though. However, through most of his art i can see that he tries to shed light on his perceived injustices.
Veronica Leonardo
DeleteI was raised Catholic and am now married into a very Christian family who openly discuss and emphasize a commitment to God and the church. I feel connected spiritually to God but don't heavily commit to the church and what comes with it because of certain opinions I hold. Although I can admit it's nice to have that spiritual connection, I don't think it should be forced onto anyone. It's hard to come into someone's life and try and enforce a religion because essentially, it's trying to take away their faith and put it towards another. But faith doesn't work because someone told us so, it's something internally flamed. Imagine living your whole life thinking one way and someone telling us no that's not right. I would think trying to force religion brings the opposite. Throughout the book, it's clear he was conflicted. I thought it was sad when he talked about having to "learn an alien culture" because it shows how they tried to strip away the originality of the Inuit and replace it with their agenda. I think the past few readings, including this one, show the awful treatment the Inuit endured. I believe their culture is forever changed because they keep losing what made them Inuit in small ways that will eventually separate them from their origin. For example, when Professor Potter talks about how the younger generation has different food preferences and that their clothing is different, highlights their move away from what made them Inuit. Of course, populations grow and advance but shifting their diet, food, and religion is changing who they are as a people. It's all just sad. I love how there are different cultures because their uniqueness makes them different, which is interesting. I think the older generation of Inuit may have it the hardest because they experienced forced settlements and the Western culture pushed onto them but also every new generation losing some of the quality characteristics of Inuit people. I'm sure they still practice and follow a lot of traditional ways but there's probably a void of what used to be. Anyway, I found some of the conversations humorous. I thought Alootook Ipellie’s perspective on his life as an Inuk was interesting. He stated "I think I am fortunate to have been part and parcel of an era when cultural change pointed its ugly head to so many Inuit who eventually became victims of this transitional change. It is to our credit that, as a distinct culture, we have kept our eyes and intuition on both sides of the cultural tide, aspiring, as always, to win the battle as well as the war. Today, we are still mired in the battle, but the war is finally ending.” I wonder what he means by the war is finally ending...as in the Western culture won its effort to change the Inuit people? I don't know but I'm glad he says that they have their eyes and intuition on both sides of the culture tide because I feel it acknowledges that yes, they are shifting but will try to keep some of their traditional culture.
ReplyDeleteI am struck by the weight of the contradictions he embodies. A bridge between two worlds, he struggles to reconcile the ancient traditions of his Inuit heritage with the foreign influences of Western culture. His fingers, once tools for crafting intricate carvings and hunting for survival, now become instruments of self-destruction, tormented by the conflicting demands of two worlds. Ipellie's story is a powerful reminder of the existential crises faced by many Indigenous peoples, forced to navigate the treacherous waters of cultural assimilation and spiritual dislocation. His work serves as a poignant testament to the ongoing struggle for identity, a quest to reclaim and reassert cultural roots in the face of colonialism and globalization. As I gaze upon his tormented fingers, I am reminded of the urgent need for empathy, understanding, and reconciliation.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Tentoco
ReplyDeleteReligion is a very interesting topic to me. I am Catholic and grew up catholic. I participate in my church every Sunday by singing in the choir and teaching the liturgy to the young people who attend the mass. Even though I heavily practice my faith I also believe in science. which is crazy. my parents think I am. But after the years I definitely see that my mom and grandma eased up on pushing Catholicism on people who don't practice. I on the other hand am really interested in other peoples religion. I have a client that practices Sikh. Then the parent of my client explained it to me and we had a whole conversation about it. Religion is very important no matter what you believe in because it helps communicate with others and also learn about a person. Being open minded is always best when talking about another beliefs.
Ipellies creations serve as a reminder of the strength of the Inuit community and their ongoing efforts to preserve their heritage in the face of external pressures. His insights provide insights, into the challenges and outcomes of assimilation well as the constant pursuit of individual and spiritual identity.
ReplyDeleteReligion has always been a controversial topic. I wasn't brought up to practice any religion. At times I wish I was to feel a part of a group that share similar beliefs. However, I do understand the importance in respecting someone else's religion or beliefs. There are many religious groups that are too aggressive and almost make it seem more like a cult. Anyone has the right as to what they believe, but it doesn't give the right to advise or tell what they think the rest should believe in. I've been to many baptisms, etc., but have never felt forced into practicing and devoting myself to any religion. That being said I think that is okay to welcome people to see what it's like. Unfortunately, conversion of Inuit and other Indigenous people to Christianity was enforced and often came with significant cultural and spiritual consequences. It took away a lot of their traditional ways of life and imposing values and practices.
ReplyDeleteMariah D
I have been enjoying the Inuit tales where the people are conversing with the animal characters, such as in “Damn Those Invaders”. It reminds me how important it is in their culture to honor the animals in their lives whether they are for food, clothing, or companionship. In this story, it was very interesting to see the conversation between a caribou and an Inuit person about the infiltration of westernized people in their territory. Something I read when I was researching for my final paper about child protective services is that colonialism is the overall problem, meaning that if the Canadian government would not push itself into situations that it does not belong then things would run much smoother in the Inuit communities. I can't help but think about how similar the stories in the Canadian arctic are to those of the Nav\tive American tribes after Westward Expansion in the United States.
ReplyDeleteEli Tamburino
ReplyDeleteThe story of Alootook Ipellie is one of great tragedy, as a man who seeks connection with his family and culture is forcibly removed from it time and time again. It is also a tale of great resilience, as Ipellie was able to come out the other side of several roadblocks in his life to a career that mirrored his passion for art, literature, and the cultural practices and wisdom of his people as an editor for the Inuit Times. I think one interesting aspect to this story is the lack of flexibility the Christian ministers afforded the native Inuit when it came to incorporating their practices together. Christianity has a history of cultural diffusion, for example it is commonly speculated that the birth of Christ is celebrated in December to align with the winter solstice, an event that was often of great importance and significance to polytheistic pagan religions across Europe and beyond. It calls into question the validity of the conversion efforts in respect to the Inuit, and whether they viewed them and their beliefs as "worth incorporating"