The Legend of the Qalupalik

The First Settlers

About as far north as you can get in Canada sits the small Inuit village of Grise Fiord, in what is now known as the Territory of Nunavut. It was founded in 1953 as Canada pushed its claim over the Arctic during the Cold War. The first settlers consisted of eight Inuit families, who resettled from Inukjuak, Quebec. As part of the agreement, these families were not allowed to return home for a one-year period, having to rely heavily on their hunting skills and knowledge of the Arctic for survival.

Several small children were among these families. The adult settlers were very concerned for the well-being of the children and tried their best to caution them about the unfamiliar territory that was now their home. In Inuik folklore, tales of mystical creatures were often used to teach children to be careful around the ice flows. It was the easiest way to keep them safe, as their curiosity pushed them to venture further and further from the village’s safety.

Making Grise Ford Home

Soon after the village of Grise Ford was settled, word quickly spread of “other” inhabitants of Grise Fiord. Though details were vague, the residents reported feeling they were being watched, were never alone, and had the inexplicable feeling they were not welcome. As tensions grew, so did the push to keep the children close. This heightened tension had the villagers on edge, which kept the children safe.

Two months had passed without incident, and tensions were subsiding. The villagers carried out their daily duties, hunting and fishing, and taking care of each other. Food became plentiful, and things were going incredibly well until the day they didn’t.

The First Incident

During the third month of habitation, one of the children went missing. An intense search ensued. Quite a distance from the village, near the edge of the icefloes, were found some of the child’s clothing. There was no other sign of him. Everyone assumed that the child had ventured too close to the edge of the ice and fell in the ocean. What seemed strange was why he removed his boots and jacket and neatly placed them about 30 feet from the water’s edge. The village mourned, but in such a harsh environment, the struggle for survival necessitated the resumption of hunting and fishing.

Rumours began to circulate that someone or something must have taken the child. There began tales of a mystical creature called the Qalupalik. Much like a mermaid or siren, the Qalupalik was believed to be a half-human, half-sea creature, that inhabited the northern Arctic waters, luring children to the edge of the ice floes only to be snatched. Though some residents believed this was nonsense, others took the stories seriously, remembering the strange feeling they all had during their first days in Grise Fiord. So began the Dark Days.

The Dark Days

Two weeks after the first child went missing came the strangest report to date. Three children were exploring the edge of the ice floes when they heard a “tapping” sound on the ice. It was foggy that day, so they couldn’t see far and went closer to investigate. As they approached the source of the sound, they stumbled upon an eerie sight. Sitting on the ice at the water’s edge was something human-like but not human. It wore little to no clothes; its skin was green and slimy, and it had long hair. As it turned toward the children and reached for them, its face was dark with glowing red eyes, and its hands had long, sharpened claws. As the children screamed and began to run, it leaped forward and tried to grab them. Only later did two of the children realize that the third was missing. They ran back to the village and told their story.

The adult residents were wary of the children’s story, but they immediately grabbed their weapons and retraced the children’s steps back to the water’s edge. As in the first incident, there was no sign of the child, other than his coat and boots being found neatly placed 25-30 feet from the water. This time, however, a trail of blood was seen across the ice surface, leading from the clothes to the water’s edge. Despite the children’s vivid story and description, the villagers agreed that the children’s view must have been obscured, and that a hungry polar bear snatched the child. All this despite the inexplicable placement of the child’s clothes.

A week passed before the third occurrence. A few adult residents were hunting near the edge of the ice floes when they suddenly heard a tapping sound on the ice. At first, they couldn’t track the direction from which the sound was coming. They cautiously started to investigate further. As they proceeded, a loud scream came from behind them. Only then did they realize one of their fellow hunters was missing. They turned back to look for him. They found only some of his shredded clothes, with what looked like ripped pieces of flesh and a trail of blood leading to the water. Turning toward the water, they saw something terrifying. A slimy green creature was staring at them, her red eyes fixed in their direction as if peering into their souls. Frozen with fear, they stood there as if time stood still. Suddenly, the creature jumped off the ice and into the water. Where it had stood, lay the remains of the missing hunter.

Better Days Ahead

No one knows why nothing more happened after the third occurrence. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, without incident. What the adults saw that day was undeniable, but they never spoke of it. The community elders were the only people who continued to warn of the creature they referred to as the Qalupalik. These stories continue to this day.

The official reports that were filed on the incidents did not mention a creature, only that the missing children were deemed tragic accidents. The first child fell into the ocean and drowned, and their body was never found. The second child was killed by a polar bear and dragged into the ocean, no body was recovered. As for what the adults saw that day, no report was ever filed on the incident. The death of the hunter was reported as a polar bear attack, though the body was never recovered. Rumour has it that only a few family members were privy to the truth about what had happened that day. They never talked about it for fear people would think they were all crazy.

Today in Grise Fiord, people consider a “tapping” sound on the ice as a warning and immediately move away from the area. Children are terrified as they’ve been warned of the Qalupalik that may be waiting for them at the edge of the ice floes, ready to snatch them. It’s not often people venture far from the village by themselves these days. People feel safer that way. There are fewer incidents that way!

References:

1) Ishak, N. (2020, December 3). 7 Terrifying Creatures From Native American Folklore That Will Give You The Creeps. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/native-american-monsters/3

2) The Qalupalik of Inuit Folklore | Into Horror History | J.A. Hernandez. (n.d.). Www.jahernandez.com. https://www.jahernandez.com/posts/the-qalupalik-of-inuit-folklore5)

3) The Qalupalik. (2011, June 29). Quill and Quire. https://quillandquire.com/review/the-qalupalik/

4) Farnstrom, M. (2020, December 8). The Qalupalik: Monsters of the Deep. Puzzle Box Horror. https://puzzleboxhorror.com/the-qalupalik-the-inuit-siren/

‌5) Grise. (2024). Grise Fiord. Grise Fiord. https://www.grisefiord.ca/en/history