The walrus is among the most popular and recognizable subjects of Inuit art. In realistic depictions or mythological compositions, the walrus is a recurrent and powerful spirit. Walruses are massive mammals, larger than the polar bear, living on the ice across the eastern Canadian Arctic. The name, walrus, is from the Danish hvalros (sea cow). For centuries, the Inuit have hunted the beast  they call aiviq for their hide, blubber and ivory.

Adult males and females both have tusks, used to establish dominance within social herds. Males can live 35 years and weigh over 3000 pounds, sporting ivory tusks more than three feet long. The aiviq loves shellfish, especially clams. Hungry walruses can eat thousands of clams in a single feeding. Contributing considerably to their blubbery bulk.

On land, the walrus was hunted on foot or at the ice floe edge, and by kayak in the water. Hunters would imitate walrus grunts, or wait quietly at an ice hole for the aiviq to surface. To prevent the walrus diving away in the depths, hunters used an avatuk (sealskin float) attached by a sinew line to the harpoon. The walrus is a dangerous foe because of its sheer size and the awesome power of its strong tusks. A hunter must demonstrate respect for the inua – the soul – of the walrus in order to convince it to give itself up in the hunt.

In historic times, ivory obtained from walruses was used by the Inuit for amulets, tools and toggles. Since the late nineteenth century, a southern market for decorative ivory objects developed, resulting in ivory cane handles, jewellery, and cribbage boards made from entire tusks. In the Canadian Arctic and Alaska full walrus tusks are variously inscribed with scrimshaw or carved away elaborately into three-dimensional totemic figures. The baculum, or penis bone, is a unique curiosity of the walrus. This strong fertility symbol appears only rarely within Inuit art, presented alone or with attached carvings or surface etching.

A mythical walrus man makes an appearance in various Inuit legends. He is believed to be a hunter who transformed into his prey while pursuing their migration. His new walrus brethren taught him how to swim briskly by using his flippers, but they did not allow him human implements to aid his clumsy attempts to catch clams to eat. The walrus has been intimately connected with Inuit shamanism. Together with the bear, walruses and birds were the most important spirit helpers of the angakoq. The presence of the spirit of the walrus was often indicated by the sudden appearance of tusks growing from the shaman’s mouth. This powerful symbol conferred upon the shaman the protection of the walrus spirit and might endow him with special attributes required for the hunt or to ward off evil forces.

The tale of the walrus and the polar bear has been told for decades – one of the earliest versions dates to the 1820s. These foes, the strongest of the animal spirits, met in a mighty battle. The walrus was sure to win until finally the bear grabbed up a chunk of ice to crush him. They say the bear had to dip the ice repeatedly into the freezing water until it was large enough to subdue the mighty walrus.

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For centuries the Inuit have kept walrus and caribou meat separate. So serious was the taboo that the walrus hunt could not begin until all work with the caribou had been completed and cached for the season. One Inuit legend may explain the genesis of this prohibition:

A long, long time ago a woman (possibly Sedna herself) created the walrus and the caribou during a time of great famine. She took a piece of fat from her belly and threw it on the land. Up sprung a caribou with a flat head and two long tusks. The animal turned on her and proved too dangerous to catch, so she scared it away. Still hungry, she took another piece of fat and cast it upon the water. It was transformed into a walrus with small teeth but large antlers on top of its head. This animal was too difficult to catch because its antlers upset the hunters boats. Finally, the caribou and the walrus were made to trade their tusks and antlers.

Without this solution surely the people would have starved and so, it seems, the caribou and walrus must be kept always separate lest they gain back their original forms.

Another legend suggests an additional reason for the forced separation of caribou and walrus:

At one time there was plenty to eat, until a greedy hunter tried to catch caribou and walrus at once. He blocked the path of the migrating caribou with a large walrus skull, thinking he could hold the herd until his return from the walrus hunt. Finding their way blocked, the caribou chose another route and left the area, never to return. Meanwhile, the hunter in his kayak was excited to spot a great bull walrus, but became distracted by a tiny walrus who spoke to him in his own language, offering itself to the hunter. However, greed overcame the hunter and he refused the small walrus saying he was too tiny to be wanted. With that, the walrus calf departed in despair, and all his herd with him. Since that day the people have struggle dto find any food to eat.

To view available artwork depicting the walrus, click here.