A Cautionary Folktale

She hums, trills her long fingernails against Arctic ice along the corridor of Inuit communities that dot the Northwest Passage. She wants to catch children. Any children will do, but she gets the too-curious ones, the ones who don’t listen to their parents, the ones who wander to the icy edges and glassy weak spots. The invincible ones. Green skinned, the half-human, half sea monster Qalupalik (also called Qallupilluit) smells like sulfur and the children always know who it is after it’s too late. A head full of seaweed hair, she snatches them with her webbed claws, stuffs them in her amautik (Inuit baby pouch), and drags them down to her icy lair – forever. Some say she eats them. Others say she puts them under a sleeping spell. Either way, she feeds on their souls, grows young and immortal as they grow older down at the bottom of the frozen sea.

Watch this animated short, Qalupalik, from the National Film Board of Canada and hear the story of Angutii, a young boy who doesn’t listen to his parents, and his father’s journey to bring him home.

Tales of the Arctic

Northwest Passage

For generations, Inuit families along the Northwest Passage have warned their children about the dangers of the icy sea, where they could easily drown or die of hypothermia. It’s hard to pinpoint the origins of this tale because it was passed down in the oral traditions of storytelling in Inuit culture, but it has survived many generations.

With all the dangers the Northwest Passage presents, Qalupalik included, it’s less surprising to learn that European explorers spent over 400 years failing in their pursuit to find it. Perhaps it was Roald Amundsen’s approach to the journey through the ice that led to his success?

Northwest Passage Cruises

Little Known Facts

Europeans first attempted the route in the 15th century – after about 1,300 years of suspecting its existence, as evidenced by Ptolemy’s world maps.

Henry Hudson, of Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, and Hudson River fame, made four attempts to find the Northwest Passage between 1607 and 1611. On the last one, he, his son, and seven of his crew disappeared after the rest of his crew mutinied.

Explore the Northwest Passage

Uncover more mysteries of the Northwest Passage and follow in the footsteps of the great explorers.

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The Northwest Passage – In the Wake of Great Explorers (Itinerary 2)

Explore Greenland, Québec, Newfoundland, and Boston as only the explorers did. Follow in the footsteps of James Cook, explore abandoned whaling communities, and dive deep into history – well protected from Qalupalik!

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The Northwest Passage – In the Wake of Great Explorers (Westbound)

Begin your travels in Iceland, where we recommend getting some advice from the elves, before heading to Nuuk and then the forgotten towns along the passage – all the way to Nome. Be sure to check out City Hall!

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Explore Other Arctic Tales

Shift your latitude and journey north. Write your own Tale of the Arctic. There's nothing quite like the blue hues of ice, the hum of glaciers, and the thrill of a story. Check out these stories from other awe-inspiring destinations.