THE LEGEND OF THE ORPHAN WHO ACQUIRED GREAT STRENGTH Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who lost their children immediately after every birth. Finally, one day they had a little boy who survived, and they called him Kaassassuk. They loved their little boy very much and were happy that the same fate had not befallen him as all their previous children. Ironically, however, both parents suddenly became ill in the midst of all this happiness and they died shortly afterwards in quick succession. OSTRACIZED BY SOCIETY It wasn’t long before the orphan began creating problems at the settlement. He was therefore pushed out of the community and slept amongst the dogs or in a cramped entrance to a house. On the rare occasions in which he was invited inside, people gave him tough walrus hide to eat. Kaassassuk was often lifted up by his nostrils as punishment for attempting to dry his boots inside or keeping himself warm at the ventilation outlet in the ceiling. Over time he therefore developed very large nostrils.
On the rare occasions in which he was invited inside, people gave him tough walrus hide to eat. Kaassassuk was often lifted up by his nostrils as punishment for attempting to dry his boots inside or keeping himself warm at the ventilation outlet in the ceiling. Over time he therefore developed very large nostrils.
THE KAASSASSUK SCULPTURE IN NUUK In front of the Greenland Self Rule buildings in Nuuk a large sculpture of Kaassassuk can be found, and it has become a tradition for newly graduated college students to dance around the sculpture. The figure has become symbolic of the fact that even if you are alone, you can achieve your goals but at the same time you should take care that your abilities do not go to your head. THE LEGEND OF THE ORPHAN WHO ACQUIRED GREAT STRENGTH Once upon a time there was a man and his wife who lost their children immediately after every birth. Finally, one day they had a little boy who survived, and they called him Kaassassuk. They loved their little boy very much and were happy that the same fate had not befallen him as all their previous children. Ironically, however, both parents suddenly became ill in the midst of all this happiness and they died shortly afterwards in quick succession. OSTRACIZED BY SOCIETY It wasn’t long before the orphan began creating problems at the settlement. He was therefore pushed out of the community and slept amongst the dogs or in a cramped entrance to a house. On the rare occasions in which he was invited inside, people gave him tough walrus hide to eat. Kaassassuk was often lifted up by his nostrils as punishment for attempting to dry his boots inside or keeping himself warm at the ventilation outlet in the ceiling. Over time he therefore developed very large nostrils.
