This sculpture depicts drummers that are singing and chanting ancient songs as they are being drawn away into the mist by Sedna. Sedna and her sea creatures (seals, whales, and walruses) form the base of the sculpture. These are the sea animals that Sedna gave to the Inuit so they could sustain life in the Arctic environment. The drummers are made from the knuckle bones of the flippers from the bowhead whale. These shamans use the drum to cast spells and communicate with spirits. The drum has had a great impact on Inuit culture and society, not only for shamanistic ritual but to pass on to future generations the unwritten history and stories. The soapstone masks help transform the shaman’s drumming experience. The mask restricts physical sight and enhances the spiritual vision. The masks and the hypnotic pounding of the drums assist the shamans’ journey under the sea into the sky and on the land. This sculpture represents the passing of ancient beliefs into the world of memory and myths.
