Eytukan was responsible for the overall leadership of the Omatikaya clan on Pandora during the RDA occupation. Under his and Mo'at's instructions, their daughter, Neytiri, trained Jake Sully in the lifestyle of the Na'vi. He was killed during the Destruction of the Hometree by falling wood, which impaled him through the chest.
Eytukan believes the Sky People poisoned their children.
During the 2140s, when Grace Augustine is given the idea to open a school for the Na'vi to learn from the Sky People, Eytukan argues with Mo'at and opposes Grace's idea of opening a school, but Mo'at says the children should decide. After Mo'at and some children visited Hell's Gate, several children suddenly fall ill. Enraged, Eytukan blames the Sky People for his ailment: he believes they deliberately poisoned the children.
As the disease worsened, Eytukan constantly argues with Mo'at, trying to convince her of the Sky People's evil intentions, but she believes in their innocence and tries to find a cure. It soon turns out that some time before, while hunting alone near the human base, Eytukan witnessed a couple of RDA employees dumping a strange substance into the stream. In his opinion, water contaminated in this way could have poisoned the children.
Mo'at, with the help of Grace, was able to develop a cure and heal the sick children and Eytukan reluctantly allowed the school to open.
Death of Sylwanin[]
In 2152, his daughter Sylwanin was killed by the RDA, prompting the closure of the school and leading to the decision by Eytukan and Mo'at's to ban the Sky People from the clan entirely.
In 2154 after a sign from Eywa, Neytiri took Jake Sully to Omatikaya Hometree to be judged by her father and her mother. At first, Eytukan was angered by Jake's presence as he had forbade all humans from entering Hometree after his eldest daughter, Sylwanin, and many other children were killed by humans. But after an inspection from Mo'at, he began to show an interest in him. He prevented Tsu'tey from killing Jake when the latter explained that he was a warrior. The Omatikaya clan had never previously encountered an avatar controlled by a human warrior, and Eytukan viewed this as an opportunity to learn more about the Sky People as they made it clear they were not going away anytime soon. It was decided that Neytiri would teach Jake the ways of the Na'vi.
Later, Eytukan proposed that two of Tsu'tey's apprentices, Saeyla and Ka'ani, were ready to undergo Iknimaya. Jake joined them, and all three completed the rite of passage.[1]
Eytukan accepts Jake as part of his people.
Eytukan, along with Mo'at, was partially responsible for Jake's adoption into the clan. After conducting Jake's initiation ceremony, he seemed to have respect for Jake, treating him as one of his own people.
When the Trees of Voices were destroyed by RDA bulldozers, Eytukan ordered Tsu'tey to gather a war party and destroy the bulldozers in retaliation. Grace attempted to reason with Tsu'tey, but was dismissed. Jake and Neytiri arrived at Hometree shortly after, but Jake was disconnected from his avatar body before he could persuade the Omatikaya not to attack. Eytukan continued plotting the attack with Tsu'tey and asked where Neytiri was, insisting she should join the party and fight for her people[2] until Jake returned to his avatar and warned Eytukan that the RDA was coming to destroy Hometree.
Eytukan after binding Jake and Grace.
When Jake revealed to the clan that he was sent by the RDA to learn the ways of the Na'vi with the intention of persuading them to leave their home and that he knew of the RDA's planned assault, Eytukan was enraged along with the rest of the clan. He lost faith in Jake and had both him and Grace bound and prepared the Omatikaya warriors for the defense of the Hometree. Following the arrival of the RDA forces at Hometree, Eytukan and Tsu'tey ordered the Omatikaya warriors to fight back despite a restrained Jake and Grace's pleas for the clan to run into the forest. At Eytukan's command, the clan's warriors bravely attempted to pierce the cockpit glass of the RDA fleet with their bows and arrows, and Tsu'tey and his accomplices were ordered to attack the vessels from above on their banshees.
A dying Eytukan gives Neytiri his bow and tells her to protect the people.
However, the clan's arrows had little effect on the vessels and the banshee riders could not launch a counter-attack in time. When the fleet switched to incendiary rounds, Eytukan realized that they were no match for the human firepower and ordered everyone to flee into the woods as he entered Hometree to evacuate those who were still inside from the flames. Eytukan was fatally wounded when a splinter of the Hometree, sent flying by the rocket explosions, penetrated his torso. As he lay dying, he handed over his ceremonial bow to his grieving daughter, Neytiri, and told her to protect the clan. He was succeeded as Olo'eyktan by Tsu'tey.
Eytukan buried in the Tree of Souls.
Following the destruction of hometree, Tsu'tey discovered Eytukan's body and was grief-stricken. With the help of his clanmates, Eytukan's body was brought to the Tree of Souls to be buried amongst the roots, Mo'at wishing that Eywa would grow a new tree over the bodies of each of the fallen. Furthermore, Eytukan and Atan, among other deceased, were remembered by Tsu'tey and his apprentices before the start of the consciousness transfer ritual; That night, the spirits of Eytukan and Sylwanin were also near the Tree of Souls, praying to Eywa to allow Grace to live among the people.[3]
Eytukan appears to Jake within Eywa, telling him he does not deserve to die.
Two weeks later, after Jake is poisoned and put into a coma, Eytukan's consciousness appeared to him along with Tsu'tey and other fallen members of the Omatikaya from the Pandoran Neural Network while Jake was unconsciously connected to the Tree of Souls. After Jake was tormented by his guilt-ridden visions, Eytukan appeared to tell Jake he does not deserve to suffer.
Jake tearfully asked Eytukan for his help because his soul is sick. Eytukan removed the bloody piece of bark embedded in him, the bark that caused his original death, and told Jake that only his body is poisoned, but that he was not merely his body. Eytukan told Jake that Eywa did not only chose him to lead the Na'vi, but to join in their cycle of life as well. Eytukan and Tsu'tey encouraged the guilt-stricken Jake to forgive himself for his mistakes, reassuring him that Neytiri chose him and that Jake is truly one of the People. This helped Jake to free himself from his nightmare.
During challenging times, Jake would visit Eytukan's memory at the Tree of Voices for guidance.[4]
A decade and a half later, Neytiri briefly mentioned her father while having an argument with Jake about leaving the Omatikaya, holding the bow he gave her on his deathbed and vowing to protect the clan. She was forced to leave her home to fulfill his last wish, hiding with his family in the Metkayina clan when the RDA returned. During the skirmish at the Three Brothers, Neytiri accidentally ends up breaking her father's bow while trying to save Kiri and Tuktirey. However, it was later repaired by Lo'ak and Tsireya, marking a pivotal moment in Neytiri’s grief for Neteyam, as as she tests it she shows relief for the first time since the beginning of the movie. Also, Neytiri shows the repaired bow to Jake to urge him to have faith in Lo'ak.
When Kiri and Spider enter the Spirit World, Eytukan is amongst the Na'vi who greet them. Alongside Ronal, Eytukan leads the ceremony welcoming Spider as one of the People.
Personality and Traits[]
A dying Eytukan orders Neytiri to protect the clan instead of saving himself.
Eytukan was a good leader who cared greatly for the welfare of his clan. During the destruction of the Hometree, he told Neytiri to leave him and went into the burning Hometree to rescue as many Na'vi as he could, though his bravery cost him his life. He loved his mate, Mo'at, and his daughter, Neytiri, although he sometimes had problems with his headstrong daughter. Though they had some creases in their relationship, Neytiri was heartbroken when he died, crying over his body. With his dying words, Eytukan requested that Neytiri take his bow and take care of the clan.
Eytukan seemed to get along fairly well with Jake Sully and respected the avatar, who respected him in turn. He allowed Jake to speak and listened while he explained the RDA's upcoming assault. However, Eytukan hated treachery and was enraged when Jake revealed that he had been assigned by the RDA to spy on the Omatikaya, and ordered both Jake and Grace to be bound. Eytukan was determined to defend Hometree against the RDA forces and tried in vain to prevent its destruction.
Abilities[]
Eytukan wielded his bow and shot arrows upon the RDA fleet in defense of the Hometree along with the Omatikaya warriors. However, it is unknown how skilled he was with the bow.
Eytukan arguing with Mo'at about the ill children.
Mo'at is Eytukan's mate.
Eytukan was mated with Mo'at and had two children with her, Neytiri and Sylwanin, the latter of whom was killed in an assault by the RDA which lead to both Eytukan and Mo'at's decision to forbid all Sky People from entering their territory. His decisions were greatly influenced by Mo'at's wisdom. When Eytukan was killed in the Hometree's destruction, he was mourned by his mate and youngest daughter.
Although they had some problems, Eytukan loved Neytiri, his youngest daughter, very much and was concerned for her welfare. During a fierce confrontation between Jake and Tsu'tey, who was furious with Jake for mating with Neytiri, to whom Tsu'tey was betrothed, Eytukan rushed Neytiri out of harm's way. When the RDA forces attacked Hometree, he commanded a reluctant Neytiri to run while he attempted to save the Na'vi who were still inside Hometree, which was ignited in flames. After he was impaled by a shard of wood, Neytiri, who searched for him, eventually found him and was heartbroken to see that he was dying. Eytukan gave Neytiri his bow and told her to protect the clan before succumbing to his wounds.
Sylwanin was Eytukan's eldest daughter and his firstborn.
Sylwanin was Eytukan and Mo'at's eldest daughter. While their relationship is unknown, Sylwanin's death at the hands of RDA soldiers prompted Eytukan and Mo'at to forbid the humans from ever coming to Hometree. Their spirits are seen together trying to help save Grace's life.
Eytukan had great respect for Tsu'tey, the Omatikaya's finest warrior and leader of its hunters. He chose him to one day be his successor as Olo'eyktan and mentored him in his early years.[5] After the RDA destroyed the Trees of Voices, one of the clan's most sacred places, he had Tsu'tey lead a war party against them. Later, both prepared the clan's warriors for the defense of Hometree against the RDA. Following Eytukan's death in the assault, Tsu'tey succeeded him as the clan leader and grieved him.
Jake Sully is Eytukan's son-in-law and mate of his daughter Neytiri.
Eytukan was less than pleased when Neytiri brought Jake Sully, one of the Sky People, to Hometree after forbidding them from ever coming to their land. However, he was intrigued to learn that Jake was a warrior during Mo'at's inspection of him and, along with Mo'at, allowed Jake to learn their ways from Neytiri. After finishing his lessons, Eytukan seemed proud to conduct Jake's initiation ceremony into the clan, calling him a "son of the Omatikaya".
Before the assault on Hometree, Eytukan gave Jake permission to speak and listened as he revealed that the Sky People were coming to destroy the clan's home, but when Jake confessed that he was sent by the RDA as a spy to bring them the message that they had to leave Hometree or they would be killed, Eytukan was infuriated and, losing all respect for Jake, had Tsu'tey and his warriors take both Jake and Grace captive before preparing for the defense of Hometree. When Eytukan died, Jake was saddened when he found his body and a grieving Neytiri by his side.
Following his death, Eytukan appeared to Jake from within the Pandoran Neural Network and assured him that Jake needed to forgive himself for his mistakes and move on, demonstrating that after his death, Eytukan became aware of Jake's accomplishments to protect Pandora and the Omatikaya, and regained respect for him. It is said Jake would visit Eytukan's memory within Eywa for guidance.
As Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya, Eytukan is not only one of the most seasoned hunters in the clan, but also a respected elder amongst all the Na'vi. His proficiency with the bow and arrow is unmatched amongst the hunters, and when Eytukan speaks, whether in joy or to command, the clan listens without question.
Trivia[]
Eytukan in Reckoning
Eytukan's model was datamined from the game Avatar: Reckoning, although why his model is in the game is unclear.
In the original script (Project 880), Eytukan's name was "Mato'a Te Kaha Nahgoitewa" and his role was almost the same as in the movie: he was also opposed to Josh Sully learning the ways of the Na'vi and was one of the three who died during the destruction of the Hometree.[6]
He is the only major Na'vi character that did not speak English throughout the entire first film.
Eytukan is a minor character in the comic Tsu'tey's Path who acts as Tsu'tey's mentor.
His full name was revealed for the first time in Tsu'tey's Path, although his name is misspelled as "Eykutan".[7]
Photo of Eytukan with Marshall Lamm
In the Satu'li Canteen at Pandora: The World of Avatar, there is a photograph on a wall of Eytukan and another Na'vi next to Marshall Lamm and other ACE personnel. This does not make much sense since it should be set after Avatar, making it possible this was an oversight.
„Ketepeu fahew akewong. (His alien smell fills my nose.)“- Eytukan upon meeting Jake Sully.
„Kehe! Fìou lu'awvue, uniltìranyu-tsamsiyu, a tsole'a awngal. Pori awngaru lu tìkin, a nume nì'ul. (No! This is the first warrior dreamwalker we have seen. We need to learn more about him.)“- Eytukan preventing Tsu'tey from killing Jake after learning that he is a warrior.
„Ngenga 'itan Omatikayaä luyu set. Na'viyä luyu haxpì. (You are now a son of the Omatikaya. You are part of The People.)“- Inducting Jake into the clan.
„Mefoti yìm. (Bind them.)“- Eytukan ordering Jake and Grace to be bound after discovering Jake's original mission.
„Ikranti makto. 'eko ta'em. (Take the ikran. Attack from above.)“- Eytukan instructing Tsu'tey to gather the ikran riders to attack the RDA fleet from the air.
„Ma 'ite, tskoti munge. Omatikayaru tìhawnu sivi. (Daughter, take my bow. Protect the people.)“- Eytukan requesting that Neytiri defend the Omatikaya as his dying wish.
„You are... one of the people.“- Eytukan to Spider
