Religious fanaticism at Leaf River, Ungava, 1931

The introduction of Christianity to the eastern Arctic gave rise to random outbursts of religious fanaticism among the Inuit, yet none was so carefully documented from first-hand observations as the occurrence at Leaf River (Tasiujaq) in Northern Québec. Based on Royal Canadian Mounted Police report...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Etudes Inuit 1997-01, Vol.21 (1/2), p.159-188
Main Author: Grant, Shelagh D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Bible
Canada
Children
Christian missionaries
Christianity
Christianization
Cosmology
Fanaticism
History
Indigenous populations
Inuit
Police
Quebec
Religion
Religious conversion
Religious rituals
River ports
Shamanism
Singing
Spirit possession
Spiritual belief systems
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Summary:The introduction of Christianity to the eastern Arctic gave rise to random outbursts of religious fanaticism among the Inuit, yet none was so carefully documented from first-hand observations as the occurrence at Leaf River (Tasiujaq) in Northern Québec. Based on Royal Canadian Mounted Police reports, personal diaries and photographs, this paper will show how Inuit spiritual traditions and Christian practices were integrated to form a sensational, but relatively short-lived, syncretic religious movement that spread rapidly to neighbouring communities. L'arrivée du christianisme dans l'est de l'Artique a donné lieu à des explosions imprévisibles de fanatisme religieux chez les Inuit. À partir d'observations directes, la manifestation qui a eu lieu à Leaf River (Tasiujaq) dans le nord du Québec a été soigneusement documentée. Basé sur des rapports de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada, des journaux intimes et des photographies, cet essai montrera la façon dont les traditions spirituelles inuit et les pratiques chrétiennes ont été intégrées dans la création d'un mouvement religieux syncrétique qui, bien que de courte durée, a fait sensation et s'est rapidement propagé dans les communautés avoisinantes.
ISSN:0701-1008
1708-5268