Maria Bach Kreutzmann was born and bred in Nuuk, and has been fascinated by monsters ever since she was a little girl. She has used Greenlandic mythology and all its colourful creatures in many of her personal projects and has long dreamt of sharing Greenlandic stories in a new and unique way. She graduated from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. Since then she has worked in the gaming and advertising industry in Denmark and the UK. In January 2017 she moved back to Nuuk, and has since then worked on the Greenlandic film, culture, and literature scene as an illustrator and project manager with her company, Glaciem House. She is the lead editor, a researcher, and an illustrator for this project.

Ujammiugaq Engell was born and bred in Nuuk, where she now lives with her family. She spent some years in Denmark where she read History and Curating at University of Copenhagen. Today she works as a communication manager at Greenland’s National Museum and Archives. Due to her Greenlandic-Danish background, Ujammiugaq has always had a particular interest in sagas and myths as well as the history of the Danish Commonwealth, which she works to share and promote every day.

Robin Fenrir Mansa Hillestrøm was born and grew up in Nordsjælland, Denmark, but a series of unexpected events brought him ever closer to Greenland. He studied Culture and Modern History at the University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik, having previously read History at the University of Copenhagen. Robin lives in Nuuk where he enjoys the weather and the wonderful view, while he wonders how the past can be shared to make it relevant and help us better understand each other and the world around us.

Qivioq Nivi Løvstrøm grew up in Nuuk and Ilulissat with stories about SASSUMA ARNAA and ghost stories about IKUSIK, the northern lights, and QIVITTUT. Qivioq has previously studied Inuit Cultures, Arctic Archaeology and History & Subject Didactics. She is currently studying Culture and Modern History at the University of Greenland, Ilisimatusarfik. She still refuses to whistle at the northern lights.

Agust Kristinsson is an Icelandic artist who graduated from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012, with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. Since then he has worked in the gaming industry and has so far been art director on two games released on PlayStation and Xbox. He has been freelance since 2017 and has added Motion Graphics to his skills—and has barely left his workstation ever since. From there he has worked on countless illustrations, a game, and various Motion Graphics projects.

Carina Lillegaard Løvgreen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Character Animation from the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, in 2012. Since 2014 she has worked as a supervisor for Characters for the LEGO Ninjago TV series. Ever since childhood she has loved horses and the X-Men universe which, together with her degree, has made her the artist she is today. She has really enjoyed gaining an insight into traditional Greenlandic culture and drawing mythical creatures for this book.

Christian Fleischer Rex is a Greenlandic animator and illustrator who studied classic animation at the Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. Christian has worked on several animated movies in Europe, including “Asterix and the Vikings.” Today Christian lives in Nuuk where he runs his own production company, Deluxus Studio. Here he produces animation, animated explainer videos, illustrations and storyboards, and designs logos for businesses and organizations. In 2008 Christian published the comic “Kaassassuk – the orphan,” based on a Greenlandic story of the same name.

Coco Apunnguaq Lynge is an illustrator and visual artist. She specializes in drawing simple, beautiful, and colourful illustrations and characters. Throughout her childhood she was fascinated by cartoons and design, which continue to provide her with inspiration and passion. Coco was born in Nuuk where she lived until she was five years old, after which she moved with her mother and younger sister to Denmark. She has always been proud of her Inuit heritage and was delighted when she was asked to illustrate the Greenlandic mythical creatures in this book.

Jonatan Brüsch graduated from the Animation Workshop in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Art. He has studied at several art colleges and has always been passionate about traditional and digital art. Since finishing his studies, Jonatan has worked on everything from TV series to computer games in places such as Denmark, Germany, and Iceland. He has really enjoyed this project and feels it has given him a better understanding and insight into Greenland’s culture and history.

Maja-Lisa Kehlet was born and bred in Nuuk and grew up in a family where art and music were highly valued. She travelled to Denmark at the age of 16 to continue her education and went on to study at the Animation Workshop where she was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics Arts in 2015. She has worked freelance on books, cover art, character designs, 3D-based advertising, 3D game development, 3D backgrounds, characters, and developed games. In 2018 she delivered a major illustration to PlayStation in connection with International Women’s Day. She draws as much as she can in her spare time, and is delighted that this guide will help highlight how much there is to discover in Greenlandic mythology.

8 Preface by Maria Bach Kreutzmann

10 A brief history of Greenland by Ujammiugaq Engell

A

17 AAJUMAAQ

18 AASSIK

20 AAVERPAK

21 AJAQQISAAQ

22 AKUEQQUTIT

24 ALLAQ

24 ALLIARUTSIT

26 AMAARSISARTOQ

29 AMAROQ

30 AMU

33 ANGIUT

34 ANINGAAQ

37 ANNGIAQ

38 AQAJARORMIORSIORTOQ

39 ARPATTUT

41 ASIAQ

42 ASSAGISSAT

E

45 EQALUSSUAQ

46 EQQILLIT

49 EQUNGASOQ

50 ERLAVEERSINIOOQ

I

53 IGALILIK

54 IKKIILLINEQANNGEQQISSAARTOQ

55 IKUSIK

55 ILLUKOQ

57 IMMAP NANUA

58 INNERSUIT & ALLIARUTSIT

61 INNERSUIT TAARTAAT

62 INORROOQ

64 INORUTSIT

65 INUARAKASIK

66 INUARULLIKKAT

67 INUSSUAQ SAARNGIINNAQ

68 ISEQQAT

70 ITTUKU

K

71 KATSIIA

72 KIIAPPA

75 KILIFFAK

76 KISERMAAQ

77 KUKIFFAAJOOQ

78 KUUPAJEEQ

M

79 MAKAKAJUIT

81 MALIINA

N

82 NALAARSIK

85 NAPPAASILAT

87 NATTAANNGUAQ

88 NEQIKITSULIAQ

89 NERRERSUUT

P

91 PARPALIGAMIK UNIAKATTALIKQ

95 QAJARIAQ

96 QAMALLARLUTIK

98 QAQQAT NAALAGAAT

100 QARLIMAATSOQ

103 QIVITTUT

104 QULLERMIUT

107 QUNGUSSUTARIAQ

S

108 SASSUMA ARNAA

113 SERMILISSUAQ

114 SERMIP INUA

T

116 TARRAJAARSUIT

118 TIMERSIIT

119 TOORNAARSUK

121 TUNIT

122 TUPILAK

U

126 UERSAT INUAT

129 UMIARISSAT

130 Shamans, witches and witchcraft by Robin Fenrir Mansa Hillestrøm

136 Alternative names and spellings

140 Glossary

142 The team behind the book

156 Bibliography