In the world of the arctic shaman, the spirit helper was an essential element of the shaman’s power. These spirit helpers were acquired by the shaman to assist him in his or her endeavours. In some parts of the arctic as in the Mackenzie Delta Inuit, the shamans had one or two spirit helpers as the land was more hospitable. In Greenland, it was not uncommon for a shaman to possess twelve or more of these spirit helpers/familiars. These spirit helpers could be used for good or bad intentions.
