You know, I have been disappointed ever since. For me, the mere mention of it in English is sensitive because Inuit shamanism is spiritual. It's not just any spirits, either. Individual shamans have their own selected spirits. I believe I have my father, Angutitaq, for my spirit helper.
Shamanism is the original religion of Inuit.
It was our way of life for many, many years before Roman Catholic and Anglican missionaries arrived on the heels of European traders to forcibly replace shamanism with their religion. He would put down our religion, and tell us that Roman Catholicism had more power than shamanism. Western society believes that every Inuk is spiritual. This is not so. In order to understand and appreciate the world of spirituality and shamanism, Inuit themselves must understand the religious belief.