The Untold Saga of the Water Tribe: Delving into the Mysteries of Avatar: The Last Airbender

Highlights

The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is rich, detailed, and feels authentic due to its inspiration from real-life Asian and Indigenous cultures.

The Water Tribe, comprised of the Northern and Southern tribes, holds great importance in the show's storyline, as its culture and history are briefly examined.

The Northern Tribe is secluded, traditional, and deeply connected to spirituality, whereas the Southern Tribe is a federation of smaller tribes, characterized by progressiveness and resilience in the face of Fire Nation attacks.

The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is incredibly immersive, with intricate histories of nations, even if they are not directly tied to the plot. This aspect adds to the series' allure, as the world possesses a genuine and fantastical feel. Drawing inspiration from real-life Asian and Indigenous cultures, the fictional world's diverse societies enhance its authenticity. While ATLA introduces much of the lore, The Legend of Korra further expands upon it, even exploring the history of the first Avatar.

The four nations also hold significant importance in the show's overall narrative, as the world's division plays a central role. Of particular significance to both ATLA and Korra's characters is the Water Tribe, as it serves as the birthplace of key protagonists. Technically divided into the Northern and Southern tribes, they share the same cultural roots, but have developed slight variations over time. Influenced by Indigenous and Inuit customs, the Water Tribe's traditions hold great importance to characters like Katara, Sokka, and Korra. However, the show only briefly delves into the tribe's history and the distinctions between the Northern and Southern sects. How did the Water Tribe originate, and what factors differentiate the two regions?

How Was The Water Tribe Created?

Before the first Avatar existed, the early ancestors of the Water Tribe were bestowed with the power of water by the lion turtles. These creatures, through energybending, granted them this elemental gift. Eventually, these individuals formed the Water Tribe after the lion turtles retreated from their role as protectors of humanity. The early members of the Water Tribe departed from the lion turtle cities and established their settlements at the North Pole of the world. As they settled, they developed various ways of life and traditions that would shape the Water Tribe culture. This included their reliance on water for sustenance and the use of dome-like structures in their architecture. However, there were also certain aspects of early Water Tribe culture that bore resemblance to Fire Nation customs.

Initially, there were numerous separate tribes in the North, until they were unified by a group of waterbenders who constructed the capital city, Agna Qel'a. Nonetheless, this unity did not endure for long, as a period of internal unrest plagued the tribe. A faction within the tribe disagreed with certain perspectives and cultural practices that had become commonplace in the North and chose to break away. They ventured to the South Pole, establishing a new sect of the tribe. Due to these disagreements, the two Water Tribes not only grew physically distant but also experienced cultural and political divisions throughout the years.

Northern Water Tribe

The northern Water Tribe thrived due to its isolation, which protected it from the invasions experienced by the southern tribe. Consequently, it emerged as a significant economic and political force following the Hundred Year War. In comparison to the southern tribe, the northern tribe upheld more conservative and spiritual traditions. For instance, females in the northern Water Tribe were prohibited from learning waterbending for combat purposes and were solely trained as healers. Additionally, parents commonly arranged marriages for their children. Although a number of women departed from the northern tribe to seek refuge in the southern tribe in order to escape these strict regulations, many rules were later questioned and relaxed after the conclusion of the Hundred Year War. The northern Water Tribe is led by a chief, regardless of gender. In the final part of The Legend of Korra, it was governed by twins Desna and Eska, who took over from their father Unalaq following his loss of power.

Southern Water Tribe

The Southern Water Tribe consists of several smaller tribes, forming a federation that is governed by a Council of Elders. This council is responsible for electing a chief who leads the tribe. Unfortunately, the South endured a series of devastating attacks from the Fire Nation, resulting in the tribe's near destruction and the capture of most of their waterbenders. At a critical moment, Sokka and Katara encountered Aang, the protagonist of The Last Airbender, and this discovery ultimately saved their nation from extinction. Following their assistance in the Siege of the North, Master Pakku provided support to the Southern Tribe, aiding in their reconstruction efforts and fostering a more positive relationship between the tribes.

Although the Southern Tribe wasn't completely free from sexism, they didn't face the same gender equality issues as the North. Women in the Southern Tribe were allowed to be benders, beyond just healers, and arranged marriages weren't enforced. In comparison to the North, the Southern Tribe was more progressive, but they remained a confederation under the jurisdiction of the Northern Tribe. However, during the Water Tribe Civil War in The Legend of Korra, the South gained independence. Since then, the Southern Tribe has thrived, growing in size and power under Chief Tonraq's leadership.