The Inuit have long considered Nanuq, the polar bear, to be wise, powerful, and almost human. Of all the animals they traditionally hunted, these powerful bears were the most prized.
Subsistence hunters rely on polar bears for both food and clothing. They use the fur to make warm trousers and kamiks (soft boots).
The liver is the only part of the bear that is traditionally discarded. Due to its toxic levels of Vitamin A, polar bear liver can make even sled dogs violently ill.
In the past, hunters paid respect to Nanuq's spirit by hanging its skin in an honored place in their home for several days. If the bear was male, the hunter offered the bear's spirit knives and bow-drills; if female, the hunter offered knives, skin-scrapers, and needle cases.
Legend held that if a dead polar bear was treated properly by the hunter, it would share the good news with other bears so they would be eager to be killed by him. Bears would stay away from hunters who failed to pay respect.
Other legends told of strange polar-bear men who lived in igloos, walked upright, and were able to talk. In these legends, the bears shed their skins in the privacy of their homes.
Watch polar bears as they travel across the sea ice to hunt seals.
Polar Bear FAQ
We answer the most frequently asked polar bear questions.