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Deimos-Remus — I is for Ijiraq

#arctic #canada #caribou #eskimo #folklore #greenland #monster #myth #mythology #wendigo #ijiraq #tariaksuq #bestiary #inuit #mythicalcreature #bestiaryalphabetum
Published: 2017-09-13 20:07:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 50158; Favourites: 1137; Downloads: 0
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Description

Name: Ijiraq

Area of Origin: Inuit Cultures (Indigenous populations of Canada, Alaska, Greenland)

In Inuit mythology, an Ijiraq (plural: Ijirait) is a sometimes malevolent shapeshifter that kidnaps men, women and children alike. Though its true appearance can only be seen by Shamans, which is said to resemble that of a human with their eyes and mouths situated on their sides, so that they “blink sideways”, they’re rarely seen this way. Though they’ve developed among humankind and inserted themselves into every day life, they often transform into arctic animals or hybrids to disguise themselves. Ijirait are believed by some to be the same thing as or at least very much associated with the Tariaksuq, a similarly shadowy and deceptive creature that takes the form of a half-man half-caribou hybrid. Ijirait are reported to be very fast runners, incredibly strong, able to cause ground tremors, and are stated by some to be what people turn into after death. 


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Comments: 31

Cerberus-Chaos [2024-07-18 18:47:19 +0000 UTC]

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lucaschannel07 [2024-06-21 09:56:46 +0000 UTC]

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BeastMaster09 [2023-12-23 16:14:14 +0000 UTC]

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Demonkingswrath [2023-12-03 16:19:55 +0000 UTC]

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Azog220 [2017-12-02 17:17:38 +0000 UTC]

When I first saw that, I thought that was a wendigo

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langostinothed In reply to Azog220 [2022-06-23 05:19:31 +0000 UTC]

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Deimos-Remus In reply to Azog220 [2017-12-18 03:44:51 +0000 UTC]

I can see that. I also mention Wendigos in the description a bit. 

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DOSHLORD [2017-09-23 18:45:03 +0000 UTC]

You seem to have confused Tariaksuq with the ijiraq.

Tariaksuq is the half-caribou creature, ijiraq are just simply shapeshifters.

Tariaksuq harmless for the most part, from what I've read, Ijiraq on the other hand though are very dangerous, while they don't actually kidnap people they lure them away from the safety of their tribe or camp out into the tundra by somehow making it impossible to navigate the land.

One story states that a man named Buott and his wife Enoogoo went out hunting in freeman's cove, only to get completely lost, despite Buott being an expert navigator, they had to follow their own tracks very carefully to get back to their camp, despite seeing it off in the distance, when they finally made it back to their camp they found a nearly eleven foot polar bear circling their camp, sizing up their kids, presumably for meal.

A similarity that Ijiraat share with Tariaksuq is that neither of them can be seen directly in their true form, they can only be seen out of the corner of your eyes. If you look at a tariaksuq directly it will be sent back to it's own world.

It's not clear what happens if you try that on an ijiraq however.

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Deimos-Remus In reply to DOSHLORD [2017-10-25 04:15:28 +0000 UTC]

I was reading some accounts/stories and according to some Inuit Shamans and professors, they're one in the same. At the very least, Ijirait are consistently described as being able to transform into any half-man/half arctic animal hybrid (Caribou presumably included). I do mention the Tariaksuq in the description, and because they are very similar entities, I thought I'd touch up on both of 'em. 

But yeah, Inuit Folklore is extremely interesting. 

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OperaGhost21 [2017-09-14 14:30:34 +0000 UTC]

An Innuit skinwalker? Awesome! Especially love the hands.

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Deimos-Remus In reply to OperaGhost21 [2017-10-25 04:19:04 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, basically! Thanks dude! 

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SweetCorn-Suite [2017-09-14 10:52:13 +0000 UTC]

I've been looking forward to seeing what your rendition of an Ijiraq would look like.  Turned out amazing~
Love the wicked pose and even that tiny glint of red in its eyes.

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Deimos-Remus In reply to SweetCorn-Suite [2017-10-25 04:19:20 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much, glad you like it! 

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hans-sniekers-art [2017-09-14 08:07:27 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this creature is interesting. It shows a common idea that has been transformed in such way that it becomes culturally present to this foreign culture, making it really cool and fresh. Thanks for introducing me to this mister here!

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Deimos-Remus In reply to hans-sniekers-art [2017-10-25 04:20:06 +0000 UTC]

For sure! Inuit mythology is fascinating! 

Glad you like it! 

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hans-sniekers-art In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-10-25 08:12:49 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I really need to look into their mythology some more!

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PuddingValkyrie [2017-09-13 21:24:03 +0000 UTC]

I literally just read about this yesterday!

Awesome work, as always!

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Deimos-Remus In reply to PuddingValkyrie [2017-10-25 04:20:31 +0000 UTC]

Ha, it's funny how that seems to happen a lot! 

Thanks! 

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ColdBlod23 [2017-09-13 20:28:24 +0000 UTC]

Its like i can hear the sound this thing makes...

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Deimos-Remus In reply to ColdBlod23 [2017-10-25 04:23:47 +0000 UTC]

Caribou on their own sound pretty creepy if I recall correctly! 

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ColdBlod23 In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-10-26 10:49:56 +0000 UTC]

oh they do soundcreepy.But imagine one 100 times more creepy.Like you can hear it from miles away.

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bhut [2017-09-13 20:11:37 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the new piece!

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Deimos-Remus In reply to bhut [2017-10-25 04:23:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the support!

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bhut In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-10-25 14:01:33 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome.

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The-Psychonaut [2017-09-13 20:09:38 +0000 UTC]

sounds like a wendigo

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Deimos-Remus In reply to The-Psychonaut [2017-09-13 20:19:29 +0000 UTC]

The caribou-like appearance often associated with the Wendigo is actually a modern falsehood it seems. The Wendigo traditionally appear as very human-like, but decomposed and elongated. 

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The-Psychonaut In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-09-13 21:13:54 +0000 UTC]

You mean, like in 'Supernatural'. 

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Deimos-Remus In reply to The-Psychonaut [2017-09-13 21:32:32 +0000 UTC]

Haven't watched Supernatural, so had to look it up. But yeah, kind of. Probably a lot more skeletal and gross, but they're also described as giants. 

My 'W' in this series will be the Wendigo, looking forward to sharing it when the time comes! 

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machu0 In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-11-28 05:04:24 +0000 UTC]

Might thou do Skinwalker for "S"?

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Deimos-Remus In reply to machu0 [2017-11-28 22:37:56 +0000 UTC]

I've got the Scottish Selkie lined up for 'S' but I always like drawing monsters, so drawing a skinwalker in the future is always a possibility! 

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machu0 In reply to Deimos-Remus [2017-11-28 23:07:29 +0000 UTC]

Sweet, selkies are interesting. Kinda fit in with an uncommon form of werewolf that is compelled to wear the wolf skin

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