49. Angalkuq — The Shaman and the Loon

My grandfather told me this story of a very old grandmother and her very young grandson. Everyday they walked along the beach looking for food. One day the grandson saw a loon diving for food—it looked so easy for the loon and he told his grandmother, “I wish I could be a loon, they get food anytime that they need it.” The shaman heard this and decided to help the boy and his grandmother. He turned the grandson into a loon. We still sing a song about this story.

Earl Auralria Atchak