Out of respect for the family, I delayed the writing & publishing of this post until now. News outlets have already reported on this sad event in Inuit history, but I would still like to publicly add my name to the list of condolences to the family and reflect on meeting this incredible individual.
In
mid-December 2023, surrounded by family in Ottawa, Canada, Inuit Elder Qapik Attagutsiak passed away peacefully at the age of 103. She leaves behind an enduring legacy of
working tirelessly to better the lives of Inuit and to promote Inuit history
and culture.
Qapik was born in June 1920 near Chesterfield Inlet. Her father was a hunter & her mother was a seamstress. She became a midwife and seamstress at the age of 18. During World War II, she and many Inuit participated in the war effort by collecting animal bones and carcasses that were shipped down south to be “processed into ammunition, glue for aircraft, [and] fertilizer.” This drive was encouraged by Canada’s National Resources Mobilization Act. It was around this time she met her husband, and they raised a family of 14 children.
She
settled in Arctic Bay in her senior years, preferring to spend most of her time
in her qammaq (canvas hut), built by her son.
The hut is heated by a qulliq (oil lamp). The place served as a sewing place &
meeting room. She greeted &
entertained many guests & visitors, such as, Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau in 2019. The hut became a local
attraction because she was the only Elder in the community living in one.
I met and spoke with Qapik several times since moving to Arctic Bay in 2013. I did visit her in her qammaq in January 2015. The hut appears small on the outside but is quite spacious on the inside. Qapik had everything she needed to feel comfortable. Her daughter & I brought her freshly chiseled ice from a frozen lake near the community’s water pumping station. You can read my blog post about it here. We enjoyed tea, Bannock, and Inuit ice cream made from caribou fat. She also shared several memorable moments of her life and talked about the changes she’s experienced.
Qapik
came to Inuujaq School on many occasions to speak to students, staff, and
participate in school events. She was always
given the most comfortable chair the school had to sit on. She also spoke at the 2021 Remembrance Day Ceremony
I organized for the community.
Qapik always wore traditional Inuit clothing when she was in public. She also modeled the clothing she made earning high praise for her designs and sewing skills. She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces recognized & honoured Qapik for her wartime efforts in a special ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History in January 2020. She was named one of Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes.
When I talk about Qapik and her accomplishments when I’m in southern Canada, the one thing that surprises many people is her longevity. I assume this is because they’ve never lived in the high Arctic and most likely were told it’s near impossible to live long near the top of the Earth. (I assume the same is said for living near or at the bottom of the Earth). One of the many failures of the education system(s) out there that want us to believe that humans can only live between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Humans are adaptable creatures and have proven over millennia they can survive pretty much anywhere on the planet as long as they’re prepared and have the will to stay. Qapik and the Inuit are great examples. They prove it’s possible for humans to survive & thrive above the tree line and live very long lives. The absence of trees, cold winters, and long periods of darkness is not game over. Moving to Arctic Bay and meeting Qapik taught me that quickly.
Qapik’s
funeral was held in Arctic Bay just after Christmas (in 2023) and was attended
by many. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend,
but I did send my condolences to the surviving family. Her life story was published by various Canadian
news outlets, such as CBC News, APTN News, and Nunatsiaq News.
Rest
In Peace, Qapik. You will be greatly
missed.
-
Below
are links to several YouTube videos about Qapik Attagutsiak:
APTN
News: Qapik Attagutsiak – 100th Birthday
APTNNews: January 27, 2020. Qapik Attagutsiak. 3:24 – 5:52.
ITK:Pamiujaq – Qaapik Attagutsiak
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